AMADA and more. The natural curve [II]
10/01/2011.
by Matthias Pliessnig
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
metalocus, JOSÉ JUAN BARBA
beautiful curved wooden form in construction. The pictures were of the furniture designer Matthias Pliessnig’s work in progress. Intrigued by these These project are a group of beautiful curved wooden forms in frozen movement.
The pictures are of the furniture designer Matthias Pliessnig’s work. Intrigued by these Amada's images (before link) I decided to contact him to find out more about his work. Matthias tells; “My current work is exploring combinations of boat building and furniture building skills to create objects that celebrate wood as a material and asks questions of function.”
Having started out working with metal he changed to woodwork several years ago and has appreciated the more malleable and supple nature of this natural material ever since. He says, “Naturally, furniture became my vehicle due to the intimacy of interaction and the challenges of structure with form.”
The pictures are of the furniture designer Matthias Pliessnig’s work. Intrigued by these Amada's images (before link) I decided to contact him to find out more about his work. Matthias tells; “My current work is exploring combinations of boat building and furniture building skills to create objects that celebrate wood as a material and asks questions of function.”
Having started out working with metal he changed to woodwork several years ago and has appreciated the more malleable and supple nature of this natural material ever since. He says, “Naturally, furniture became my vehicle due to the intimacy of interaction and the challenges of structure with form.”
Courtesy Matthias Pliessnig.
Courtesy Matthias Pliessnig. WAIVE. Steam bent white oak 45"x35"x31" (114 cm x 89 cm x 79 cm)limited series of five. 2007
Courtesy Matthias Pliessnig. POINT NETWORK. Steam bent white oak, ash 50"x46"x34" (127 cm x 117 cm x 86 cm).2007
Courtesy Matthias Pliessnig. DEVIATED PATH. Ash, 168"x27"x23" (427 cm x 69 cm x 58 cm).2006
Courtesy Matthias Pliessnig. EBB. Steam bent white oak, 82"x28"x22" (208 cm x 71 cm x 56 cm).2007
Courtesy Matthias Pliessnig. BENDS. Steam bent white oak, 44"x30"x28" (112 cm x 76 cm x 71 cm).2006
Courtesy Matthias Pliessnig. CONVOLUTION. Steam bent white oak, 88"x42"x31" (223 cm x 107 cm x 79 cm).2006
Matthias Pliessnig.
We learn that Matthias work with domestic woods that are harvested in the US. He explains, “Two years ago, I moved to Wisconsin and began using wood that is harvested here by local arborsists. The trees that are cut down are from crowded forests that need more sun for the younger trees to grow healthy. I believe wood is a great renewable resource when grown and harvested correctly. I certainly do not support rainforest woods or clear-cutting.“
Matthias has used the steam bending process in much of his work, but his new pieces including Deviated Path use the natural bend of the wood. He says he seeks out solar or air-dried rather than kiln dried wood as it is less brittle and it “bends nicely”. “This search led me to some great locals that used the slower processes of drying the wood. Ideally, I look for air-dried wood that has been drying for one year or so, but the solar dried wood works great too.”
Matthias uses a water-based non-toxic epoxy glue to hold the wooden structures together. You can see more of Matthias’s furniture on his website as well as examples of his beautiful wooden sculptural pieces.
Congratulations Matthias on a sustainable process and a brilliant result.
