Origin
Exploring Texture
My main goal in designing and making this piece was to explore texture, and experiment with how to arrange different textural elements into one cohesive design.
Inspiration
The carved design is an abstracted sun, sea, and mountains. De-naturalised by using straight lines and simple curve, which speaks to the impacts of humanity on nature. Textures are then used to re-introduce an organic feeling back into the inorganic line work.
The textural elements also informed the shaping of the other elements of the cabinet. I associate hand carved textures with Japanese carpentry, as such I decided to carry this theme through the overall shape of the piece, and the detailing of the components. Light tapers, chamfered corners, and simple geometry are all nods towards traditional Japanese furniture.
Functionality
While my main goal is to design pieces that stand out aesthetically, this must never come at the cost of functionality. A chair that looks beautiful, but is uncomfortable sit in, has failed at its job of being a chair. Push-to-open drawers were used to keep the carved panels uninterrupted by handles, and different drawer depths provide ideal storage for all drawer types.
