ARCHIPELAGO
Summer Isolation Workshop by Livable Platform
In collaboration with: Sep Verboom, Aaron Lapeirre, Elke Cuppens, Lara Rutten, Laetitia Meyers, Juul Prinsen, Charlotte Declercq, Cinte Wittoek, Nicoline Devos, Ubbe Vandenameele, Leto Keunen
July 2020
All photographs are taken by Aaron Lapeirre
COVID-19 brought turbulent times, in which we all experienced the oppressing of a pandemic.
Over the past few months of lockdown and restrictions, we all reflected on what to think, what to feel and what to (not) do. Every one of us experienced isolation, and how to cope with it.
Each of us experienced this in another way. Some are aware of the world around them, others live in a continuous ignorance. Some spend their isolation with family, others never felt more alone.
Although every experience is unique, we can see a common theme in each story. How various it may be, everyone is fighting the same enemy. This project tries to find a way to map these experiences and the variety and similarity between them.
Although every experience is unique, we can see a common theme in each story. How various it may be, everyone is fighting the same enemy. This project tries to find a way to map these experiences and the variety and similarity between them.
During our one week stay in Ghent, we reflected on the perception of "Isolation". Can we take advantage of an isolated situation? Can we create a dialogue between the environment and ourselves?
By reflecting on contemporary social changes, we developed a concept using a hands-on approach. This came to life by exploring different ways with rattan materials, to get from concept to creation.
By reflecting on contemporary social changes, we developed a concept using a hands-on approach. This came to life by exploring different ways with rattan materials, to get from concept to creation.
Via open conversation and sharing experiences between the designers, we analysed what these past months in lockdown due to COVID-19 have meant for people in general.
Through reflection we tried to find a meaning of this lockdown. What did people experience? Which feelings came with these experiences?
A search for the articulation of experiences trough words came about: people had to balance, redefine, put into perspective and connect. Some people took advantage, while others started helping each other. (False) safety feelings, new ways of connecting and/or disconnecting. The 'invisible' enemy made us experience all sorts of things.
A search for the articulation of experiences trough words came about: people had to balance, redefine, put into perspective and connect. Some people took advantage, while others started helping each other. (False) safety feelings, new ways of connecting and/or disconnecting. The 'invisible' enemy made us experience all sorts of things.
While a bubble is defined as a group of people with whom you have close physical contact, we tried to give them a different meaning; showing what was going on inside of people minds instead. Different feelings/experiences were translated into physical bubbles of rattan. We decided on their measurements and shapes: proportions in relation to each other and in itself.
During this workshop we worked with a material unfamiliar to us. This Indonesian material; known as Rattan, has a rapid growth cycle and can be used as a sustainable alternative for wood. Traditional craft methods are used for working Rattan. In this workshop we tried to combine the current zeitgeist with a traditional crafting method.
Over the course of the week each of us experimented with the material. This taught us its features and limits. Rattan is found in different shapes and sizes, mostly as a dry, stiff material in weaving patterns. When wet, the material becomes flexible and is used for binding or fixating. We used this knowledge as a base for our design.
'No man is an island'
Poem by John Donne
No man is an island entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were,
As well as any manor of thy friend's,
Or of thine own were.
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were,
As well as any manor of thy friend's,
Or of thine own were.
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.