Mass Observation: Contemporary Basketry

What is a basket? “An object or vessel form in a textile structure where dynamics of components are all visible”. Hisako Sekijima

For this project I decided to focus on the properties and characteristics of plants in particular grasses. This decision was mainly influenced by a documentary about the Venus flower basket sea sponge on Attenborough’s Ark. I then began to develop my ideas by combining my interests in sustainable design and reusing materials.

 

  
 In this second experiment I was able to introduce pattern and colour through the process of melting and heating of bin liners and plastic shopping bags, but the overall strength and durability required was not reached.

 Plaiting and coiling the bin bags created quite a strong exterior, but I found it difficult to manipulate the structure and had to look into methods of heating and different non-stick tooling.

 I liked the way introducing the use of string reflected the making process and how this in turn added an aesthetic that may or may not be interpreted  as decorative.

 The final outcome is my interpretation of contemporary basketry and challenges the way baskets are viewed and used. The subtlety of the making process references the play between fragility and  durability.