CHAPTER 5 MATERIAL

IntroductionMaterial Carries Meaning

Marc Quinn. Self. 1966. Self-portrait. Frozen blood, vitrine,and refrigeration unit. The artist poses in background.

Selecting the right materials for your purpose is critical and demands that you accumulate knowledge through research, experiment, and experience.

Material carries meaning and contains content. How would the self-portrait differ if made of painted plastic instead of frozen blood?

Truth to materials is a modernist tenet suggesting that materials should be used in ways that take advantage of their intrinsic properties and do not appear to be another material.

WorkabilityEase of Use

Most materials fall into one of these groups:• Wood, fiber, and paper-based

products• Metals• Earth-based materials such as

clay, stone, concrete, plaster, and glass

• Plastics and foams• Dyes and pigments

Some factors in choosing materials, particularly for beginners include: • Ease of forming• Cost• Availability

WorkabilityEase of Use

Health Hazards in Design and the Arts

If not handled properly, art materials are dangerous

• Spraying and sanding requires a respirator

• Safety glasses and proper ventilation are often required for a variety of processes

• Many materials should be kept off your skin.

• Eating or smoking should not happen too close to your studio space.

MaterialBamboo

Although bamboo has been used for centuries, it is being used as much as ever because it is:• Renewable• Versatile• Grows in abundance in warm climates globally

It is used for small products and large-scale projects using traditional techniques, as wellas more groundbreaking contemporary purposes.

Bamboo tea whisk. Japan. Calfee Design. Bamboo bicycle.Bamboo scaffolding for bridge construction. China.

New MaterialsTechnological DevelopmentThe evolution of material for sculpture, products, and structures has a long and interesting history.

Some of the more promising new technology include:• Aerogel - the lightest known solid is

incomparably strong and insulatory.

• Carbon Fiber – threadlike with a very high strength-to-weight ratio

• Synthetic Skin – a number of skin substitutes for medical purposes.

• Additional advances – composites, laminates, new polymers, nanotechnology, biotechnology, fiber optics, super-hard materials and specialized adhesives.

Aerogel supporting a brick. A 2.5-kg brick is supported on top of apiece of aerogel weighing only 2 grams.

SustainabilityReuse and Green Design

Sustainable or green materials refer to products • Made from reclaimed materials• That can be renewed or regrown as fast as they are consumed• That have a local source• Made from recycled material, or are recyclable.

Green Design in architecture and interiors focuses on creating energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable spaces.

Cook + Fox Architects. LiveWorkHome. Eco-friendly house.El Anatsui. Dusasa I. 2007. Aluminum liquor bottle caps and copperwire, 20’ x 30'. Venice Biennale.