Today we are far removed from our everyday objects as we rarely think about their origin or story. If we could make more meaningful connections with our objects, would we then have a greater appreciation for our materials?
My project aims to challenge our assumptions of copper, an integral material in our modern world, though it is often passed by unnoticed. While it runs through our buildings delivering electricity and water, it also holds deep cultural and historical significance.
'Chalkos' is a family of three products that place copper at the centre of the home and encourages personal ritualised acts of connection. Each object engages with a fundamental property of copper to show the passage of time which is a central part of daily life. ‘Sennight Blue’ uses copper’s unique greenish-blue patina to display the passage of a week; ‘Hemera Pure’ takes 24hrs to purify 5 litres of water; and ‘Incalescence’ shows an hour passing by conducting heat to melt a vessel containing wax.
If this project compels us to reflect on our relationship to an everyday material like copper, perhaps it will encourage engagement with and appreciation of other everyday materials.
Chalkos. An exploration of copper
Object 1: Sennight blue
Sennight blue explores how copper's beautiful patina could have a more function role
Object 2: Hemera Pure
Hemera Pure brings an ancient use of copper into a modern context and form
Object 3: Incalescence
Incalescence uses conductivity, the most used property of copper today
Details
Research
Copper patina experiments
Copper exploration