One idea, two projects

During the autumn, the students went on study trips to Asia and gathered inspiration which they brought back home to use in their creative work. It turns out that Madelaine Nordén and Elias Näsström Nyquist have the same idea for their terracotta projects, namely plant pots built from stackable modules.

Madelaine is inspired by the old water pipe system in Japan, consisting of pipe sections that are put together. In her version, the parts are placed on top of each other to form a plant pot that can be expanded as the plant needs a larger pot. Madelaine explains her idea:

“It's expensive to buy pots, especially large ones, so my idea is that you start with one section and then buy another part when the plant has grown too big. I want to inspire people to play with the composition using the stackable pot parts in different volumes, colours and shapes.”

Elias' inspiration comes from a study trip to Vietnam, where he was fascinated by the distinctive appearance of bamboo. He also reflects on how plants' root systems need more space as they grow.

“It's hard work to repot plants as often as necessary. My idea is that it should be possible to lift the upper parts of the pot and then fill it with a new module of nutrient-rich soil underneath so that the roots can continue to grow and develop downwards,” says Elias.

Anchored in history and sustainability

In the woodworking project, students draw inspiration by looking both back to ancient civilisations and forward to an economically, socially and ecologically sustainable society. Their task is to create something out of alder wood, without using glue, which is otherwise a common way of joining pieces of wood together. This is where knowledge of ancient techniques comes in handy.

David Eriksson, instructor in the wood workshop, explains how it was a challenging project and fun to see how the students have taken great strides forward in their understanding of wood as a material.

"It has been very interesting to work with the students on this project. Wood is an organic material that cannot be handled just any old way. You have to take into account the grain and movement patterns when designing. The learning curve was steep for many of the students, and it is rewarding for me as an instructor to be a part of that.”

The exhibitions ‘FROM NOW ON’ and ‘TERRACOTTA’ in the A-building exhibition hall.