Where & What
Fourth Workshop with 3D group
Thu 10.06.2010 13:30 – 16:00
A first informal meeting with Jane from the Colchester Time Bank to introduce the idea of project and to see if Time Bank members would like to get involved.
Chao-Mi came to visit us in London and we had a chance to fill her in on all the progress to date. Especially the key decision to move from a knotted rope to a cut sheet material. It was quite a productive conversation - Chao-Mi was keen to introduce more 'Chinese-ness' back into the object and translate the knots in more detail as well as trying to get away from the flatness (which unfortunately is inherent in sheet material). We came up with the idea of layering the cut perspex to create more of a relief effect. The leaves of the frame will be held together by small magnets embedded into the perspex. All to be incorporated in the next (and hopefully final) prototype which we plan to present to the group on the 6th of February.
Collection of all knot prototypes to date
We are getting closer.
We now identified how we want to produce the final piece and met with Katherine, Laura and Philip from fristsite to discuss the launch and the next steps. The launch will take place in firstsite's new and temporary building in Short Wyer Street which houses a small gallery on ground level (see picture below). The launch is planned for the afternoon of Saturday the 27th of February - just after the Chinese Saturday school.
We will also use this occasion to launch the second phase of the project in which we will start working with a number of other groups in Colchester.
Over the coming year we will work with approximately six groups and continue to produce moments and objects of hosting which will come together in the Colchester Inn - a free standing independent small building, housing a new kind of meeting space for Colchester.
Should you be interested to join or now someone or a group that might be interested please point them into our direction.
The new and temporary firstsite space in Colchester
provisional timeline for the second phase of the project
From Europa's prototypes we understood that it will be very difficult for us to produce the knots ourselves and get a good enough quality and big enough quantity. We shied away from getting the knot produced in china which might have been an option but we wanted the production to stay as close to Colchester as possible. We also like the idea of transferring the knot into a different and unexpected material and move away from the typical knotted aesthetic.
Initially we explored casting the knot in a plastic material but very quickly realised that for the small amount of items required this will become much too expensive and too complicated a process.
In the end we decided on cutting the knot-frame out of a sheet material with a laser cutting process. Working closely with the design developed with Europa we arrived at a simple frame with a back that helps support the photograph.
We used a laser cutting company close to our studio in east London called the Blueprint model shop, which incidentally is run by a group of Chinese women all of whom got really excited by the piece and it cause a lot of talk. I was quite happy that they instantly recognised the key references.
Jes Fernie suggesting in an e mail that we should get in contact with the Colchester Time Bank Group, who just had their dinner party at their house, because Jason Glynos, her partner, is involved with the group.
Europa Chan Dawson produced a second prototype for us, knotted around a disc cut out of MDF to give strength to the knot when several of those modules are hung together to form a curtain.
Equipped with Europa's second prototype we met with product designer Angelika Seeschaaf from eeaa and asked her to cast an eye on the prototype to give us some feedback from a professional product designers point of view.
We need between 200 or 300 of the knotted modules and started to look into the best way to produceing them. Though knotting each of those could be an option we feel it would benefit the product if we translate it into another material which will move it away from a possible craft aesthetic and would help to introduce surprising twist into the piece.
Chao-Mi's comment from one of her emails came to mind in which she proposed to break the knot up into smaller pieces and try another approach. Angelika had a similar idea of separating the frame from the knots. In fact producing two elements, one a linking element and the other the frame that also acts as the supporting structure. We are currently exploring to cast the knot elements in a
The second prototype starts to address some of the issues we will have when hanging several of the modules and combining them into a curtain. A circular disk knotted into the pieces gives strength to hold the shape and frame the picture. We have decided to use two further knots one symbolising China and the other a
Europa also took great care thinking off an easy way to produce the knot in order for our group to reproduce manufacture multiples of it. Helped by some of her colleagues from a knotting convention which took place in America earlier this year she came up with the attached design as a response to our earlier drawing.
Update meeting at firstsite and discussion of the next phase. We presented an revised and more detailed concept of how the Colchester Inn project can develop and unfold over the next one and a half years.
Europa Chan Dawson came all the way to Colchester (from Bristol) to generously share her immense knowledge and skill with us in a 2 hour workshop at firstsite.
Chao-Mi an I went to visit the amazing Knot Museum in Ipswich. The museum and knot workshop is in the back garden of Des Pawson's private house. Des is a real expert in all things knotting especially in regards to seafaring knots. Over the years he has build up a substantial library and museum which is free for anyone to view by appointment. It is well worth a visit.
We were keen to marry the Chinese knot expertise with the local seafaring knot tradition and were very pleased to find such a wealth of expertise so close to Colchester.
The magic drawers in the knot museum
A circular knot frame - sounds familiar?
Des was not only very generous in accommodating our spontaneously organised visit he also took a lot of time to show us around and answer all our knotting questions with great care.
A quick catch up meeting with Laura and Toby from firstsite to give an update on progress and plan ahead.
The first test to knot some prototypes - which is much harder then it first looks. It quickly became clear that we don't have the expertise to make a full knot and need another way to imagine it. We made some paper collages which helped decide on size and gives a rough feeling for the piece. Choami managed to convince a more skilled friend of hers to translate our ideas into a first knotted piece. (see right)
The double coin knots represent two overlapping antique Chinese coins and denotes prosperity and long life. The blue rope s fro a marina use found at the B&Q in Colchester. The textile is a traditional Chinese pattern.
One of the ideas on paper. the knots in the centre circle are used as a frame that holds the picture in place. the outer circle creates a series of loops which allows the piece to get connected or extended using a number of ad-on's. The area between the two circle is a translucent fabric.
A sunday afternoon Workshop at firstsite to reflect on the proposals and decide on a final direction for our proposal.
After last meetings successful 'trimming down' of all ideas into a shortlist of 6 we looked back and tried to narrow the list even further. It very quickly became clear what the favorites ideas were and the discussion circled around how best to combine those idea into a final brief.
Link: Colchester Chinese Cultural Society
Knot Curtain drawing by Chao Mi Ko
5 ideas towards a new product for the Colchester Inn
1) Knot - the final piece will be an iterpretation of the traditional the Chinese Knot
2) Centre piece - the Chinese knots will frame a central piece, a small photo frame big enough to hold a passport size photograph.
3) Modular - the new product is modular and can easily be fixed to form a larger surface - e.g a curtain or a lampshade. The connection that fixes one knot to another will be made using ‘Pan Kou' the traditional Chinese button made of a knot.
4) Involvement - As a welcoming moment to the Colchester Inn, visitors are invited to take part by having their picture taken infront of a specially designed backdrop (or foreground) and add this picture to the centre of the knot. The knot in turn will be added to the growing curtain in the Colchester Inn.
5) Backgrounds and paper clothes - Visitors who have their photo taken can do so against a series of backdrops, some of them with a Chinese themed design others can be designed at a later stage by other groups.
Alternatively or together with the backdrop we produce a series of traditional Chinese clothes designs painted on live size paper. The paper clothes can be held up when the photo is taken.
Based on our earlier work and conversations we made a series of 9 drawings each representing a direction the product could take.
All Ideas were layed out on the table and then opened for a lively discussion. We quickly edited them down to 5 ideas which seem to capture the ambitions and ideas we have been concerned with all along.
Next step is to filter it down even more to a single clear direction which then can be prototyped.
Link: Colchester Chinese Culture Society
Andreas presenting the summary of ideas
A table full of ideas - waiting to be discussed
Cui Zhan lending his support to the tea room idea
A meeting would not be complete without some home made dumplings
Visitor to the Colchester Inn are invited to have their photo taken in a special photo both with varying backdrops or varying costumes. (Backdrops to be designed and decided on). A specially made lantern/light, which is the centre piece of the Colchester Inn will display a selection of the picture which will rotate regularly. (E.g. it could display participants in a specific meeting that took place in the room) In addition to the lantern all images can either form an extensive visitors book or become a part of a growing photo wall.
Based on the traditional Chinese knot we propose to develop our own knot which can easily be added together and has a feature at its centre. The centre piece of each knot could be a place to leave a message or a frame to hold an image, alternatively we could produce a number of different knots allowing each visitor to chose which kind they would like to add.
The individual knots can be put together to form and architectural component of the Colchester Inn (e.g. a screen or curtain). Depending on the number of knots available the piece might have to be taken down once it used all knots and started all over again (maybe in a different shape or place)
A specially designed and dressed doll inspired by ‘the monkeys journey to the west', accompanied by a book listing the stories of group members about their journey that took them from China to live in Essex. The book could be drawn in Manga style. A wardrobe with different sets of clothes representing aspects of the journey and cultural influences.
A specially designed tea table catering for many different tea customs collected from all over the world. Writing engraved on the table listing the customs and relevant quotes etc. or giving instructions. A shelve with a variety of teas, a selection of tea cups and pots collected from across the world representing the many different customs of enjoying a cup of tea. Some of the cups could be specially designed by the group. A map visualising and referencing all entries and visitors who enjoyed tea in the Colchester Inn.
Off shoot from the ‘Chinese Hosting Kit' the Chinese ‘Pick Nick Kit' is in reference to the large lawn, which will surround the future firstsite building. Visitors are invited to have a Chinese tea pick nick and enjoy a meeting on the lawn. The traditional Chinese food carrier can be adjusted as part of the pick nick kit.
Invent a new dish based on the Chinese food but tailor made for Essex. Along with the Dish we could publish a recipe book, create a plate or dish for the food and list the best places where to source the ingredients locally.
A cooking video could be made for the dish.
A gloriously sunny afternoon meeting in the garden outside the firstsite offices to update Toby, Laura and Beth on the development of the Colchester Inn project.
Link: Colchester Chinese Cultural Society
workshop in progress
Sarah presenting her woven door matt made of recycled plastic bags
Chris lucky charm - a chinese knot
Laura presenting the new firstsite building to the group
We met in Cui Zhan and Li Xin's front room, and everybody brought objects, photos and stories that tell something about Chinese ways of hosting.
Li Xin cooked fresh Chinese dumplings for everyone, followed by a brief tea ceremony presented by Chaomi and a popular love song sang by Li Ping.
Link: Colchester Chinese Cultural Society
The Mid Essex guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers meet once every month at the White Notley Viallge Hall. An day of exchanging, networking and producing.
We dropped by to meet Sarah, Lesley, Christina and Janette to introduce the Colchester Inn and explore if and how they could contribute to the project.
Link: Mid Essex Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers
Before Dorian does further work on the Colchester Inn website we met to jointly revise the back- and front- end of the site. Technical and conceptual issues, editing and slimming down as well as 'some interesting bugs' along the way. The website at this stage of the project should fulfil two functions, a blog registering progress as well as serving as a mapping tool for the project. For now the website is structured as a timeline registering and linking meetings as they unfold, mapping the spaces and people we met and which we were introduced by. As seems usual with meetings in our studio I forget to take a picture a snap shot of the front end of the website to mark this moment in time.
Following our presentation at the Saturday School Chao-Mi invited everyone to come to her place in Wivenhoe and enjoy some tea giving us the chance talk in more depth about the project.
On arrival the large table in the living room had already been prepared with (among other things) Taiwanese tea and green tea biscuits. Everyone was keen to get started and the conversation moved quickly between many different chinese, english, german and italian customs and objects that support a warm welcome and a pleasant time together. It was a very good way to get started and enjoy a more casual way to get to know each other. Thank you Choa-Mi!
"You can't rush a Chinese cup of tea" was the conclusion to a lengthy discussion about Chinese tea which was triggered in part by the tea tray from which it was served. Though everyone knows the kind of tray, no one actually could tell me what it is called. It is common in Southern China.
The tea pot is small and the tea leaves are used several times in the same pot. The first pour of boiling water is used to wash the leaves, rinse the cups and spread the scent of tea. It is not drunk but poured onto the tray which has a drain. The second pouring is then drunk and with each pouring the flavour of the tea develops.
The cups and the tea pot are small. If the leaves stay in the water too long the tea does not taste well - I think it should not stay for more then a minute in the pot before the tea is poured. The tray itself is made of a dense wood that can withstand the moisture.
The tea tray in Chao-Mi's hose is not used on a daily basis but brought out for special occasions.
'Tea in China is a bit like wine in Europe' there are many different kinds and qualities of tea and they are not necessarily cheap and chosen according to occasion.
Among the many different treats on Chao-Mi's table the star shaped biscuits covered in powder sugar stuck out as an east-western crossover. Green tea (christmas) biscuits. Delicious!
A Chinese saying for welcoming and wishing farewell
According to a Chinese custom one serves noodles when a guest arrives. Like the noodle tangles up around the chop stick the guest should stay and get entangled during his visit. When Leaving one serves round dumplings to wish the guest a round and smooth journey.
A memory from a long time ago. Lorna Tsang remembered this tea cup used by Chinese workers in Honk Kong. A lit to keep it warm which was only opened slightly to drink from.
Chinese story telling class at the Saturday School
We arrived early for our presentation to the Saturday School to catch the story telling class that took place just before we were due to present the project. Two story tellers explained Chinese culture and customs using stories. A welcoming way into another culture.
Kathrin and I had prepared a short presentation to introduce ourselves and the project to interested members of the Saturday School. Always a nervous moment but a good way to show what we are doing and what our plans for the project are.
A wonderful half hour at the Braintree visitors centre in the Town Hall with Pauline Doubtfire
On our way to Colchester from London we made the slight detour to Braintree to pay a visit to the Warner Textile Archive. Asking for direction at the visitors centre we met Pauline Doubtfire who used to work for the Warner Texticle Archive. Unfortunately the archive is now cloesed over the winter month, fortunately for us Pauline patiently answered all our questions and introduced us with great passion to the rich weaving history of the region.
Some good local advice
When booking an appointment to see the archive entrance is free and one gets to see the original artwork and samples held by the archive. (otherwise one has to pay to see the public display)
Kathrin and I came early and sat down at a small square table which was just big enough for 4 people. When Fay arrived with Michael she straight away went for the big round table - the dynamic instantly changed.
I came up to Colchester for the day to do some initial research for the project. I started the day by meeting Laura and Jes at the firstsite offices. Laura will be overseeing our project from firstsite and together with Jes we had a broad chat about all sorts of things that might be worth while exploring and can feed into the project. From the history of Dutch weavers in Essex to Jaywick and Tiptree jam. Jes had recently completed a report which looked at the Chinese community in Colchester, which might provide us with some useful links to start contacting existing and/or constitute new groups for the project.
A visit to firstsite and an introduction to public works current practice and projects
Sally Lai invited me on behalf of firstsite to visit Colchester for the day, meet the firstsite team and give a short presentation about our recent projects and our practice in general. It was more of an open conversation then a presentation. firstsite were considering to invite us to propose a project.
