Tag Archives: oversized
There’s Something About Size
It matters.
Well, at least in the case of public art, which is what this post is about.
Colossal works of art can’t help but seize attention, because nothing says “look here!” than sheer humongous-ness. And once captured, our attention is held captive, pinned, as if by a pro-wrestler. They make bold statements that provoke deep primal responses and reflective thought.
There are 1600 wooden chairs in this installation piece by Doris Salcedo in Istanbul. Image courtesy of dornob.com.
Size makes viewers feel small. We like to think we have the run of the world, and we have the tendency to delude ourselves into a mistaken sense of power and control. The larger-than-us proportions of public art can swallow us up, and serve as a reminder that we are small. And so we are called to awe.
Mariko Mori's Wave UFO
"Cloud Gate" by Anish Kapoor. Image from hardballtimes.com
Anish Kapoor’s "Orbit" viewing tower for the 2012 London Olympic Park (scale composite)
Also, size generally comes with not a small amount of strength, making these huge art pieces all tough and macho. They won’t dissolve in rain or snow. They won’t wither away when you touch them, nor will they blanch at UV radiation or camera flash. Eventually they will fade, disintegrate and be taken down, but that’s okay. They let us go ahead and ooh and aah, and lean on them and touch them. They are that approachable and accessible!
"Specific Gravity" by Reg Yuson, a sculpture and water feature. Image from http://manila-photos.blogspot.com
Thomas Heatherwick’s ‘B of the Bang’ does inspire awe and a little bit of fear. Those spikes can be lethal! Image from citysquared.co.uk
Work in progress for “King Bladud's Pigs”, an installation for an art event in 2008 by artist Al Greenhall.
What are you looking at? Tony Tasset’s three-story tall eye ball, dubbed “The Eye”. Image from urbanmilwaukee.com
Knit in the Home: Go Big!
For most of us in the northern hemisphere, this time of year is all about getting sweaters out of storage and curling up with a hot drink (might I suggest this Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate from GoodLife Eats). To cozy up your living space as well, why not try adding oversized knit to your décor? Don’t worry, I’m not going to recommend you cover your sofa in a giant afghan. You’ve probably heard that knitting is en vogue again, with stitch and bitch sessions in cool kid boutiques in every urban centre; the latest evolution has artists and artisans pushing the envelope further. Here are but a few examples of yarn as the new It design element.
Is it yarn? Is it a functional piece of furniture? Surprise! It’s both. What looks like a ball of yarn is actually a cleverly designed pouf by Thomas Eyck. Shown here on display at Maison & Objet in Paris. While exploring Eyck’s website I spotted these urchin poufs which are fantastic as well.
These remarkable stools are by Claire-Anne O’Brien. Not only do they look like works of art, I bet they’re also unbelievably comfy. The yellow one is my clear favourite. I love how bright and cheery it is. I think one of these would add just the right touch of whimsy to a bedroom or living room.
This “knitted” wallpaper from Kozeil in France might be a bit much for a whole room but as an accent it could be the perfect blend of playful and chic. The muted colour palette of this print is really lovely. Not sure how I feel about the edgy looking model but it appears she really likes the wallpaper too!
If you want to go even bigger, check out this sculpture by Ottawa knitting artist Greta Grip. This giant pair of needles and knitted material was an installation at Blink Gallery. Now I’d like to see her knit a sweater with those needles.
As you can see, knit and design can go hand in hand very nicely. These knit-inspired examples are both modern and versatile. Even if you’ve never touched a pair of knitting needles you can appreciate that these accessories would add some big drama to any room. Just remember when choosing knit for your home to amplify the impact by going oversized, and don’t be afraid to have fun with it.
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