Christian & Jade — Weight of Wood
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Through research and exploration into the life of various species of wood found within Germany’s black forest, Christian and Jade have re-imagined three furniture archetypes – the rocking chair, rocking horse and seesaw, through variations in the weight and density of each component. Each piece of furniture utilises two species of wood; oak, douglas, ash or pine – with various combinations expressing differences in texture and structure, alongside qualities imperceptible to the eye. The varying weight of each wood species breaks the pre-conceived notions of equilibrium within these archetypal forms, with the dense oak and ash disrupting the balance of each when combined with the lighter douglas or pine. By expressing these intangible qualities, Weight of Wood highlights the individual characteristics of each species, demonstrating the living qualities of this widely used natural resource.
Made in collaboration with Dinesen.
Material and dimensions:
Rocking chair.
Pine, oak.
120 x 102 x 55 cm
Rocking horse.
Douglas, ash.
68 x 50 x 24 cm
Seesaw.
Douglas, oak.
45 x 310 x 29 cm
Year:
2023
PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
Anders Sune Berg
VIDEOGRAPHY BY:
Benjamin Lund
LONG DESCRIPTION:
The rocking chair, rocking horse and seesaw were first presented as part of a larger installation and research project titled “Weight of Wood” during 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen. Collaborating with Danish flooring company Dinesen, the three pieces were presented alongside a series of smaller experiments into the principles and qualities of various species of wood. Through a year long exploration, Christian and Jade decided to examine one of the most defining characteristics of wood, its density. As weight was something best experienced through play, touch, balance and movement, the duo decided to focus on furniture that required movement and balance within its function, and contained the playful spirit of their experiments throughout the year long process. Each piece demonstrates the personality and temperament of wood species through their weight – providing a glimpse into the environmental conditions which nurtured them, while at the same time bridging the gap between the life of a tree and wood as a commodity.
DESIGNER BIO:
Christian & Jade
Christian Hammer Juhl
Designer, born 1991.
Jade Chan
Designer, born 1994.
With a focus on materials and the process of extracting and shaping said materials, the work of Copenhagen based design duo Christian and Jade is built around outcomes that deepen relationships between individuals, objects and the spaces they inhabit. Through production techniques and story telling, each project begins with research into the context of the material or object at hand – which in turn is translated into acute and nuanced forms and functions. Each project demonstrates the new parameters at play, with an early focus on hand-produced aluminium objects giving way to glass and timber as opportunities and commissions arose. Their differences in cultural backgrounds; Jade from Singapore and Christian from Denmark, provide their studio with constant re-assessment and re-contextualisation – resulting in work that is both grounded in the now and looking ahead to the future.
EDUCATION:
2018: BA, Man and Communication, Design Academy Eindhoven, Netherlands.
GRANTS AND HONOURS:
2023: Work Grant, Danish Arts Foundation, Denmark.
2023: Designer in Residence, Schloss Hollenegg for Design, Austria.
2023: Designer in Residence, Cranbrook Academy of Arts, Detroit, USA.
EXHIBITIONS:
2023: Solo Exhibition, Weight of Wood, Dinesen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2023: Group Exhibition, Ashes and Sand, Schloss Hollenegg for Design, Austria.
2023: Solo Exhibition, Weight of Wood WIP, Four Boxes Gallery, Skive, Denmark.
2022: Group Exhibition, On View, Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery, New York, USA.
2022: Group Exhibition, Nomad Circle, Etage Projects, St Moritz, Switzerland.
2021: Group Exhibition, Dansk Export, Etage Projects, CHART, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2021: Group Exhibition, Introductions, Studio Oliver Gustav, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2020: Group Exhibition, Curated, Collectible Design Fair, Brussels, Belgium.
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INSTAGRAM: