Due to my interest in functional design I think it's important to step outside the box and look at the possibility of expanding your thought and exploring new concepts. Crafts are fairly rigid as they are full of age old techniques that come with a lot of baggage, so I admire any young creative who takes on the challenge to set these categories free and explore them in new and creative ways.
Julian Watts is woodworker based in Oakland, California and uses traditional wood carving and furniture making techniques to explore the space between a sculptural form and a functional object. In my opinion this series titled 'Twig Vases' is especially well suited to this concept, as these mimic a functional form that has been used for many hundreds of years, but at the same contradicts this function with the wavy, sculptural aspect of the woodwork.
This surrealist approach is distorting the functionality but at the same time bringing in the eye of the user, we are able to recognise that these are not just everyday objects, even if the function assumes so. An intriguing concept and I decided to bring over a few of my favourites images for you to admire here, more can be found on Julian's website linked below. Not only is he an interesting artist he is also a very talented craftsman. Enjoy.
This article was also posted on my personal website here →
A Selection of Previous Posts:
In Favour of Simple - Furniture by Irish Designer and Maker Simon Doyle
Seeing Different - A Short Film on Stained Glass Craftsman Norbert Sattler
A Delicate Aesthetic - Metal Art Works by Spanish Sculptor Diego Cabezas
Stilling the Mind - Experimental Works by Visual Artist Richard Devereux
Forest + Found - Woodwork & Textiles by Max Bainbridge and Abigail Booth
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