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Philipp Schenk-Mischke Creates Organically-Formed Objects Using Unconventional Techniques

09.25.18 | By
Philipp Schenk-Mischke Creates Organically-Formed Objects Using Unconventional Techniques

For his final project at the Royal College of Art in London, graduate student Philipp Schenk-Mischke designed a set of ceramic vases and a small collection of furniture pieces that blur the lines between everyday objects and conceptual furniture. Collectively, the project is called “Process Plug-Ins.”

With BTM Ceramics, Schenk-Mischke wanted to experiment in reinterpreting classic object types by analyzing the way they’re made or used. While most ceramics are left alone to dry once they have taken form, Schenk-Mischke distorts his ceramics but placing them on a body vibration plate (the same kind used in the fitness industry) that gently shakes and vibrates the formed pieces into more organic shapes. By introducing this plug-in (defined as a component that’s designed to enhance a process or system by adding an extra feature or function), Schenk-Mischke changes pre-conceived notions about how a certain process is “supposed” to be.

Primitive Fixings is a set of two furniture pieces that also have organic forms due to unconventional techniques. Using broken crema-marfil marble slabs and black waterjet-cut and anodized aluminum shapes, Schenk-Mischke creates expressive but functional material collages. To join the two materials together, he pours molten aluminum into the joint holes, but rather than stopping at the edge, he over-pours and the spillage becomes a blob that sits on top of the joining, adding another organic element to the perfectly imperfect furniture.

To learn more about his BTM Ceramics and Primitive Fixings projects, visit schenkmischke.com.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She's probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.