At my friend’s auto body shop, a collection of crumpled fenders, hoods, and trunks immediately caught my eye. What were once pristine, mass-produced components of vehicles had been dramatically altered. Traumatic impacts had transformed them into free-flowing, organic-looking scrap metal.
Having been raised with a mindset of resourcefulness, where nothing was wasted, the potential in these discarded pieces sparked my imagination. How could these mangled remnants be reborn as something new – perhaps sculpture, or even functional furniture? This question occupied my thoughts for months, fueled by a desire to explore the contrast between the manufactured and the natural. The challenge became clear: to harmoniously blend precisely engineered elements with the unpredictable beauty of twisted metal.
Drawing inspiration from automotive design itself, I began to envision furniture that incorporated the lines and curves of these crashed parts. The arc of a wheel well, for example, could dictate the shape of a chair back. I wanted the irregular, wrinkled textures of the damaged metal to replace the conventional straight lines typically associated with furniture. This deliberate contrast became a defining feature of each piece.
My core concept revolves around uniting disparate materials to forge a new identity. Elements that seem inherently opposed can, when combined, enhance each other’s unique qualities. Salvaged, repurposed, and raw materials all carry a history, a past life that has shaped their present form. I am drawn to materials that bear the marks of their journeys. By combining them in unexpected and unconventional ways, I aim to give them a renewed purpose and a fresh narrative.
While the artistic aspect is my primary focus, the functionality of these pieces is equally important. These are not merely objects to be admired from afar; they are meant to be used and interacted with. The viewer is invited to examine the materials up close, to trace the lines where meticulously crafted wood meets the contours of crushed metal. There’s a unique satisfaction in sitting on a bench fashioned from a reclaimed truck bumper and weathered flooring – a far cry from mass-produced, generic furniture.
