Silvia Sella

The Midas Touch

 

 

 

“Midas, king of Lydia, swelled at first with pride when he found he could turn everything he touched into gold: but when he beheld his food it grow rigid and his drink harden into golden ice then he understood that this gift was a bane and his loathing for gold cursed his prayer”

(Claudian, In Rufinem)

 

The ancient Greek myth of king Midas is fascinating and inspiring: it tells the story of a king that has been given by a god the power to turn everything he touches into gold. But although at first this seems to be a magnificent skill, it quickly reveals its self-destructive nature. His food, drinks, even his daughter solidify in the precious material when he touched them. Midas quickly understands that what he believed being his richness is in fact a curse and eventually decides and obtains to loose his skill.

 

This project aims to reflect on the meaning of an ancient myth and to effectively communicate the concept through a design piece in a non-obvious way.

The Greek myth of king Midas has been chosen because of the possible interpretations that can be drawn from it and for the modernity of its morale.

A myth is the way the ancient populations explained the world’s history and the human nature. The myth of king Midas is about greed, luxury, self-destruction, but it is also about redemption and an extraordinary magic power. For centuries this story told us about the real value of things and relationships. 

 

Transporting the story into present time, the project is a modern interpretation of the myth that aims to reflect on society and personal relationships.

The first step into the project was of analysis of the myth, the exploration of the meaning of the story and its possible interpretations in order to define the concepts on which the project will be based upon. Many aspects have been considered, such as whether to focus on society at large, politics, addiction, rich countries overpowering developing ones. The final choice was to focus on the value of relationships.

 

The final outcome lays on the edge of art but it is loyal to the target of graphic design of being a communication tool to get messages across in a straightforward manner.

The outcome sees a typeface based on Baskerville that express the moment of transition the object or the living being face when they get touched by king Midas and by consequence they start to transform into useless, lifeless precious statues.

The concertina folded book collects a series of photographs that tells the story of two people that have lost the focus of what is important in life as they are distracted by material things and worries.

 

Images of the project at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/silviasella/

 

 

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Silvia Sella started her education career in Italy with a Diploma in art with a specialization in graphic design; she then achieved a first level degree in new media and art studies (Multidams) in Tourin while approaching graphic design. Silvia then moved to England to get a BA (Hons) graphic design degree at the South East Essex College.

Her method of work is influenced by her studies, often looking at art and at the interaction with the user as a starting point. Always keeping in mind the target and the need of the commissioner, her work is fresh and ironic and aims to engage the user with simple strong concepts and solutions.

 

 

 

 

Antonia Chiappe is recent graduate of Jewellery & Silversmithing, having graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a 1st Class Hons.

Chiappe's collection of delicate and engaging jewellery includes a series of rings, neckpieces and brooches. Exploring contrasts between solidity and fragility, she assembles silver structures with perforated sheet metal and strings of hand-rolled beads; introducing a tactile yet vulnerable movement into static forms.

Drawn to lines and patterns found in everyday objetcs, Chiappe enjoys deconstructing these into skeletal forms, through wire and paper drawings, which provide inspiration for her jewellery.

Having this year been awarded a Goldsmith's Precious Metal Bursary Award, Chiappe has combined silver and 18ct yellow gold with elements of paper, epoxy putty and silk. The choice of subtle pastel colours complements the delicate structures, adding a quirky aspect to the work. It's playful and tactile quality invites intrigue and exploration.

Having exhibited at ECA's 2008 Degree Show and New Designers, London, Chiappe will be continuing to exhibit across the UK, whilst working as an Artist in Residence, at ECA, in the coming year. Chiappe's work is currently on show at 12 Degress, Edinburgh and will later be exhibiting at The Hub, Lincolnshire from November - January.

I have recently graduated from the University for the Creative Arts, where I studied BA(Hons) Applied and Decorative Arts.

My concentrates on Contemporary Lighting, and uses a mixture of industrial processes with craft work.

My inspiration comes fromthe Art Deco period, the Odeon Style cinemas mixed with modern Architecture, geometry and modular systems.

The Hexagon Light Series was inspired by shapes that were often found only in the forms of the ticket offices and few windows within the Odeon Style cinemas.

The Hexagon Light series is created using sheets of acrylic from which each of the individual hexagon faces has been laser-cut, each light has at least eighty faces.

I have then sanded on the required angle onto every side of every hexagon face so that I could build the hexagon cubes ( the mathematical term for the hexagon cube is a truncated octahedron.)

The cubes are then hand built using plastic weld to join them.

I have recently started to develop these pieces into Die-cut versions. The acrylic versions are fairly expensive and not everyone can afford them. The Die-cut versions will be much cheaper and can be made from various colours of card and polypropylene. The idea is to make good design available for everyone.

Jessica Turnbull
Product Design

Kitsch is the main influence behind my work. I take the key aspects of kitsch; simplicity of form; colour; material; nostalgia; sentiment and affinity, to create objects which are a little tongue in cheek and make people smile.

I am especially interested in the rise of new technology within the field of design and
especially in the realm of jewellery. I feel that although there has been an increase in the use of such processes, there is still an underlying skepticism within the jewellery industry towards such technologies. It is seen to cheapen the pieces, whereas, I endeavour to produce, using industrial processes, affordable pieces which are well designed, carefully considered, attractive
jewellery.

Material is also a key factor in my designs. Plastic is seen as a cheap, throw away material, which is associated with mass produced, low quality objects. My aim is to use the material sympathetically, again carefully considering the design process, to create objects with
intrinsic and emotional value rather than material value.

The reaction I get towards my work is the most important factor for me. I want to make
people smile and for them to enjoy the objects for what they are...a quirky bit of fun!

 An Industrial Design and Technology student from Brunel University has created the first cost-effective single-use, fully tamper-proof syringe that is ideal for vaccinations, to combat the spread of needle related infections in developing countries.

According to the latest figures published by UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation, an estimated 39.5 million people are living with HIV in the world, of which 24.5 million live in Africa. Every year the reuse of dirty syringes infects millions of people with AIDS and hepatitis and causes 1.3 million early deaths and 26 million years of life lost.

See Design Week, 17 July 2008, Volume 23/Number 29, p.13

Cover Story, 'Needle point - Caren Garfen on gender roles'

Graduatin

Graduating Cumbrian BA Hons Jewellery Designer, Saskia Shankland, has just successfully exhibited her degree collection of hand sculpted, acrylic jewellery at Sir John Cass Department of London Metropolitan University as part of Coutts Jewellery week. She has just exhibited this collection at New Designers, where she became Runner-Up New Designer of the Year 2008.Saskia also recently received a Goldsmith’s Craftsmanship and Design Commendation and a Merit Certificate from BJA for a series of laminated, acrylic rings which she designed in grey scale colours. Her desire was for these rings to envelop the wearer’s fingers rather than sit upon them. Saskia has begun investigating the process of laminating and has developed a passion for this process which she wants to develop further in her career as a jeweller. This collection of rings was first shown in January at the Sassoon Gallery, an independent exhibition Saskia put together along with three fellow London Met jewellery designers entitled (un) finished.  Tim Carson, First Year Met Tutor, described the private view, in a train set arch in Peckham Rye, as possibly the best exhibition of that month in the city due to the professional and innovative presentation of their work. The girls used this cavernous setting to create a successful back drop for their jewellery. Saskia`s degree collection for the summer show has been inspired by looking closely at the body’s form, in particular the female body as it holds great curves and volume. In her design philosophy she states that:   “Through my creations I want the wearer to feel fascinated and intrigued by my pieces and to view them as playful fun fabulous forms. This is all achieved through the patience and hard working of my hands, which captures the precious beauty that acrylic possesses”.Building upon the knowledge she has gained so far Saskia hopes to develop further in the future, designing and making exquisite, one off, hand sculpted jewellery pieces for her wearers.

Peep Show bookshelves at New Designers Selection 2008