Annemarie O'Sullivan

 

Annemarie O'Sullivan and Tom McWalter of Studio Amos, sometimes I like to include weaving on this blog, and the work of Studio Amos is so beautiful I had to include it here (Thank you Robyn). 

‘I didn’t grow up with a sense of or any understanding of beauty. I grew up in a very functional environment. There was a beautiful landscape out there, but it was kind of denied. I almost can’t believe that it wasn’t shared with me, but I made this discovery that beauty brings so much wellbeing. It’s really simple. It’s about appreciating the way things grow, what you live around and what you touch. It is about what is in your hand on an everyday basis.” Annemarie O'Sullivan

Studio Amos has been working with Gareth Neal to produce these woven backed chairs (below).

Gareth Neal with Zaha Hadid

In 2014 before her death, Architect Zaha Hadid and British Designer Gareth Neal collaborated to create two sculptural wooden vessels from oak, challenging the idea of 'the hand made' by using technological innovation and traditional woodworking skills and combining design disciplines of architecture and furniture design.

"I was keen to take advantage of the hadid studio’s advance computer modeling software, pushing the boundaries of digital tools. I was particularly interested in the idiosyncrasies of traditional hand processes such as a hand thrown pot, or a raised piece of silverware and how simulating these could be achieved through digital imitation. through using the traditional vessel form as a starting point and subverting its appearance to dramatic extremes, mimicking traditional carving technique i hope the pieces will embed the design with a sense of the handmade through the arm of a robot, questioning the viewer’s perceptions of craft and the handmade." Gareth Neal.

Kevin Gould

 Above and Below: Contemporary workings of the orkney Chair by Gareth Neal and Kevin Gould.

Intrigued by the history and craftsmanship of traditional Orkney Chairs and concerned about the craft dying out as the crafts men who make them were all aging.  Kevin Gauld served an apprenticeship for four years learning all of the traditional skills and then launched his own business. Kevin now makes traditional chairs using his own white corn. He also reinterprets the design for a contemporary audience and has a thriving business.
 Above are examples of his collaboration with Gareth Neal for 'The New Craftsmen'.

Gareth Neal II

Gareth Neal's chair for the Bodging Millano project, love the extended seat and the lovely embracing form of this chair.