Jarrad Belton, Homage to Nature (2nd Ballad) (WORLD 2024)

Photos:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8RSd1noeaf/

Country:

United Kingdom

The overall concept of the piece is a homage to nature and the material I work with. Using pieces that have grown with a curve instead of steam bent, allowing nature and phototropism of the tree to take the lead on the piece rather than subjecting the timber to a forced shape. The contrasting metal finish on the underside represents the shiny promises of improvement towards environmental change. The scale was a very important consideration for me, I wanted the entire piece to feel very delicate, emulating that of a leaf itself. The piece was not made to be feasted over, but rather to sit next to and contemplate, finding tranquillity in a quiet moment reflecting. Also invoking a message of our interactions with the natural world and how it should be welcomed into our homes. A lot of thought went into the joinery of the undercarriage. The front two legs are wedged tenons. The petiole (rear leg) is a intricately hand cut joint that has two dowels cut into the end grain rather than introducing a separate loose tenon such as a domino. The outline of the overall piece is intended to emulate the shape of a leaf, the front two legs and underside being sprayed with polished metal contrast the overall natural design. This contrast is important as it tells the story of our interactions with the natural world, the metallic finish being the shiny promises of improvement that are always assured but not always delivered. English walnut has been used to make this piece. The finish used is walnut oil harvested from the same species of tree used to make the table itself. The top is then finished with hard wax to create a water repellent surface that water just beads off, this emulates the leaf of a juglan regia in which the piece gets it's design.

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