Raw Color simplified the ingredient of 'medieval wood' to its smallest fibre. This element, originating from one plank, is transformed into a pile of paper. By combining the classical medium of handmade paper with the technology of today, the digitalized year rings grown by the hand of the machine. Treating the wood like an archaeologist we studied the dark oak wood. We weighted, measured it and photographed every step in the process. We choose plank number 3 to saw into sawdust, this was the ingredient for the paper.
In the end we decided to use the technique from this time-being, a computer controlled milling-machine, to draw the rings of the wooden pole. One pole (number 6) we let cut into slices, here came 44 slices out. These 44 different slices weer digitalised and brought back on the paper, drawn by the machine. This visual research is presented during the Dutch Design Week 2010 in Eindhoven at Dutch Invertuals.
Dutch Invertuals presented ‘Matter of Time’, focused on the basis material of 600-year-old wood; archeological oak wood which once served as the foundation for the Eindhoven city entrance. Wendy Plomp, the initiator and curator, got in contact with the archeological institute of the municipality of Eindhoven. Discussing the urge to show the historical material but not having the capacity the institute offered Dutch Invertuals the chance to work with the unique material to convert it into contemporary pieces.
Dutch Invertuals is a collective of individual designers. Together they present their work in an exhibition in which their contemporary viewpoints are expressed through images, objects, materials, insights and stories. The participants were Carolina Wilcke, Daphna Isaacs & Laurens Manders, Edhv, Juliette Warmenhoven, Julien Carretero, Max Lipsey, Mieke Meijer, Raw Color.
Image of the excavation site
We've searched in the Netherlands for a place were they still handcraft paper, these places are becoming more and more rare. Luckily we've got in contact with Leo Hoegen in Utrecht, he has a love for making paper and a lot of knowledge. After some try-outs we found the right way to make the papers from the old wood.
