Fanny Malie
Plates create a blank neutral space in between the location of making a meal and the food in consideration.
Growing up I learned to see them as an object of practicality, cancelling out coherance of art, design and opinion.
The object plate is unique considering its quotidian interwovenness with our lifes. Its circumstances shape a perfect platform of conversation. In a culture of overstimulation and untangled relationship to objects and material satisfaction, we are also confronted with creating strong opinions -towards values and reflection of systems and culture.
How do we position ourselfes towards objects and and space of neutrality? Where is the line between the value of neutral space and missed opportunity to express statement -such as the manifesto embodies itself?
Plates make me stand up, leave the table and experiencie inside and outside surroundings within their context and situatedness. Carrying within me what has shaped me, I aim to reflect this through the exploration of action and reaction within the typological objecT.How do/can plates guide our approach of eating?
It is a personal conversation in which the plate becomes the stylistic device: Which topics do I want to put on the table?
PLATE NOSTALGIA
The plate symbolizes safe space and comfort through the resemblance of a home entrance door.
Is a home tangled to space? How do we create a feeling of home at a space where we do not have a sense of belonging?
The unique metal molds act as a personal trigger, resonating only with those for whom it holds meaning. The feeling of home is turned into a tangible object of interaction, carrying an emotional value no matter the where abouts.
It is compelling to imagine that someone, somewhere, might encounter it and be reminded of home and of memories tied to it.
THE COMFORT PLATE
Inspired by Yunomi and the pewter, I con-nected two cultural approaches of tableware and heat, while considering personal mean-ing of ceremonies within eating. The design of the warm ceramic plate imple-ments a mindful approach towards everday- activities, reminding of presence and the value of each meal.
The warmth symolically standing for com-fort allows to take time and eat slowly, hence the slowed down cooling time. Meanwhile, the simple act of filling the bot-tom piece with hot water creates an easy but impactful act of ceremonial preparation. The components can also be used seperately and adapt to multiple needs: Big bowl, bulky plate, and little plate
MOVEMENT ANALYSIS TABLE
Analyzing the interactions and movements of everything put on the table gives an insight into a diagram which looks almost like its own infrastructure.
During the one hour documentation the video was ana-lyzed with each time a focus on each single pieces move-ment. Th e movements were connected to the participants interactions, media device usage, as well as hight-move-ment, interest and positioning of each piece.
From the white kitchen tiles up to the height of a seven-year-old’s
head, I envision the white IKEA shelf. In it: teacups, saucers, a teapot,
bowls, and plates, all full of ornaments. I remember flowerprints and
the colours yellow, cream, pink, and a bright but soft green. Eventually,
there was also blue at the rims.
On vacations, I came to visit my Oma. Starting off our time together,
we had a cup of tea and something sweet from the bakery, all served
on her special-moment set of tableware. She never called it that, but
I figured, it only sometimes made its way onto the table. I seemed to
be a special moment, and it made me proud to use the set.
When she was cooking, I would observe its fine details, and I wondered
why she did not use it for herself. It was so beautiful! Instead,
there was a bunch of other tableware, all white—the standard available
plates and cups. I try to envision any of them, but there are no
details saved in my memory. It is only the white IKEA shelf with the
white tableware with the yellow, pink, and green flowers that I can
still envision in my mind.
It is difficult to tell if their beauty comes from how they look, or from
the fact that when I think of them, they give me the same warmth of
her. The one I felt when we were together.