Artefact Project Launch

23 September 2019

What is an artefact?

• encapsulation of information in a physical object
• art piece? functional?
• not always handmade..
• historically significant

Can it be digital?

Can a photograph be an artefact?

Initial engagement – superficial levels – colour, surface, texture

Study deeper – time, reason, needs, person who made it, purpose of making

Types of qualities of an artefact

• material
• how its been made
• aesthetic language
• function/ lack of function – difference between function and use – functional use, ritualistic use – encapsulates more than just functional – greater significance beyond functional
• fast production / slow, laborious production – measure of human labour – embedded in object – defines relationship of maker and user with object
• socio political
• time based nostalgia
• reflects environment is was created in (or by)
• material qualities – solubility, conductivity
• colour, size, scale, weight, texture
• what the material can do – how an object reacts to different kinds of forces

Cloe’s example of a coin press at Museum of London – that was used to create objects – interesting to note is now an artefact

V&A exercise:

• List of interesting objects and locations
• Note/list qualities of objects – physical, functional, when and where made
• How was it affected by environment and time
• Innovative re-interpretation of objects to form new creative responses in Product design. develop findings into a new artwork/design.
• Ex. – Vase – volume – space – architecture
• Allow object to be a spark for ideas (catalyst in making process)

Project process:

• V&A exercise
• Further research – V&A / British Museum
• relation between objects selected?
• V&A debriefing
• Developmental work
• Final work

Some interesting precedents from Clare and Isabel’s presentations:

• Cutty Sark, Greenwich – Grimshaw (elevating an architecture – presenting it as artefact)
• Kolumba museum – Peter Zumthor (response to ruins of Gothic church)
• Shakespeare’s Globe Logo design – Print of bark section – time, history, material, architecture
• Droog – Tejo Kenny – Chest of drawers (V&A)
• Paul Cocksedge – excavation – evicted – cylindrical cores of geological samples – into products
• Life cycle of a product – ECAL calypso machine – 3D print farm – everyday objects – design – production – purchase – on site (V&A)
• Process gone into making – Renel Ugazio – polishing
• Hussein Chalayan – furniture – garment transformation

Crossing continents: exercise – selection and drawing from multiple objects

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This was an interesting exercise, as I don’t enjoy still life drawing but do sometimes notice specific elements of objects. It makes me think about recording my specific interests in artefacts at the museum. From my 2 sketches, I i realize that I am drawn to functional forms of 3D objects as opposed to taking patterns or surfaces from objects.