Designed to explore society's relationship with natural and manmade materials, Jie Wu's stunning collection of resin-wood boxes explores natural beauty augmented by humans. Crafted with a rare antique rosewood and resin, the boxes come in a variety of special colors and patterns, all of which undergo intense processes that take over 20 hours to finish. The marble patterns featured in the resin-wood boxes are formed by the "the wrestling dance of the organic and the plastic," as Wu explains.
Dubbed the "Living in the Anthropocene" collection, these resin-wood boxes were created during Wu's time in the Textiles MA programme at the Royal College of Art. The decision to create these pieces was inspired by Wu's father's work with antiques and the consideration of present-day items becoming cherished goods when passed from generation to generation.
Resin-Wood Boxes
Jie Wu Crafted a Collection of Boxes That Blend Nature and Manufactured Beauty
Trend Themes
1. Resin-wood Crafts - Exploring the combination of natural materials and manufactured beauty, there are opportunities for disruptive innovation in crafting resin-wood products that showcase the unique patterns and colors created by the blending of organic and plastic elements.
2. Sustainable Art - With a focus on society's relationship with materials, there is potential for disruptive innovation in the creation of sustainable art pieces that highlight the beauty of natural materials while incorporating manmade elements in a thoughtful and environmentally friendly way.
3. Artistic Preservation - Inspired by the concept of passing down cherished goods through generations, there are opportunities for disruptive innovation in developing artistic preservation techniques that allow for the long-term conservation of unique resin-wood pieces, ensuring their beauty can be appreciated by future generations.
Industry Implications
1. Home Decor - The combination of resin and wood in artistic home decor products presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in creating unique and visually appealing pieces that blend natural and manufactured elements.
2. Art and Design - Within the art and design industry, there is potential for disruptive innovation in the use of resin-wood materials to create innovative and visually striking artworks that provoke thought and challenge traditional boundaries.
3. Antique Restoration - Building on the inspiration from Wu's father's work with antiques, the resin-wood craft trend opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the field of antique restoration, where these unique materials can be used to preserve and enhance the beauty of heritage pieces.