WOODLAND for NOV Gallery
Material – Salvaged pine wood, burnt shou sugi ban & varnished with coal coating
Finish – Burned, brushed, stained and oiled
Photography – Linda Suter
The wood with which these objects are made comes from partition walls commonly found in attics and cellars all over Switzerland. In bunkers, these nailed structures were designed to be easily taken apart in the case of emergency to create livable space, or furniture such as beds.
The rough sawn pine slats called for a process to make the surface more friendly to the touch and resistant. In Japan, the craft of Yakisugi (burnt cypress) has been used for centuries to protect pine wood from weathering and fungus. In this case, burning and rubbing off the charred layer became a natural way to soften and reveal more structure. The deep black finish was then reintroduced through steps of staining and oiling with a charcoal pigment, equally produced with the same wood. This closes the loop from the object's structure and the fuel for the burner, or the pigment and the fire in the oven to produce it - those pine slats are the sole material used.
Material – Salvaged pine wood, burnt shou sugi ban & varnished with coal coating
Finish – Burned, brushed, stained and oiled
Photography – Linda Suter
The wood with which these objects are made comes from partition walls commonly found in attics and cellars all over Switzerland. In bunkers, these nailed structures were designed to be easily taken apart in the case of emergency to create livable space, or furniture such as beds.
The rough sawn pine slats called for a process to make the surface more friendly to the touch and resistant. In Japan, the craft of Yakisugi (burnt cypress) has been used for centuries to protect pine wood from weathering and fungus. In this case, burning and rubbing off the charred layer became a natural way to soften and reveal more structure. The deep black finish was then reintroduced through steps of staining and oiling with a charcoal pigment, equally produced with the same wood. This closes the loop from the object's structure and the fuel for the burner, or the pigment and the fire in the oven to produce it - those pine slats are the sole material used.