Meghan Briton – United Kingdom

Kairos

Category: Modern

Description

My interpretation of the theme ‘Fusion’ is communicated through my transformation of rejected materials into a contemporary design piece. My copper headpiece was constructed from an old hot water cylinder which was found at the rubbish refuse site. Hours were spent sanding to find the best section of copper to use, followed by using an angle grinder to cut out the shape I had previously toiled, ensuring all edges were smooth. Once contented that the shape was correct, I gradually sanded the whole piece back by hand to ensure no sharp edges remained. The piece was then shaped by hand, using any object I could find which had the correct curvature. The curls which sit on top of the head were created by gently shaping the copper around a can of cat food! Once completely sanded and shaped, holes were drilled for the center front join, silicon was applied for safety and comfort of wear, and varnish was applied to maintain the new copper look. I have since allowed the piece to age naturally in areas which have been handled most.

I have named the piece Kairos (definition below) as I believe a fusion of crucial elements can be a recipe for something extraordinary. Whether that something be a moment, an event or a work of art. Design is not solitary, it is a fusion of history, circumstance, personality and spirituality. Each of us have a unique vision, and my own is constructed out of a fusion of these elements.

Kairos – The perfect, delicate, crucial moment; the fleeting rightness of time and place that creates the opportune atmosphere for action, words, or movement; Also, weather.

Materials

• Copper sheet metal
• silicon
• varnish
• comb

Techniques

• The copper was cut using an angle grinder, then sanded and shaped by hand.