“with meaning there is usefulness”
Task Three: Reflecting on it
An object that has been created with meaning causes it to be formed as a useful object, with meaning there is purpose. When an object has meaning other then physical or practical, it still creates a purpose within a persons life. An object that has other traits other then its physical form or practical use, causes it to become more meaningful, therefore becoming more useful. Apart form the physical formed nature of an object, there is also other unseen meanings and uses present. Aside form its physical attributes, such as the overall structure, and aesthetics, an object also becomes useful due to its personal connection and meaningfulness to oneself. A connection that can only be understood and explained by the person holding the connection with the particular object. Take the “hanger chair”, this object has meaning and use within my life that can only be understood and explained by myself. Due to my personal connection with it. In this essay I will project my expression of use and meaningfulness of the “hanger chair“. The object I constructed for Task Two: Making it. I will explain its use in sustainability, explaining why it is sustainable. Its several uses including practical and personal. The meaning and personal connection with this piece. What the build process meant, and how it came to from this objects meaning and personal expression. How and why other people and society have connections and meaning with seating in their life. As well how the object came to be in its final form, causing it be become useful and meaningful.
The build process of the object was simple and quick. The material for this object was selected by a simple thought process, with no plan of material or form in mind. No structure or overall strength of the form planned. No end result or goal that I wanted to achieve. I began to think of another object or material that was readily available to me and is not usually recycled or reused. The first thing that came into my mind was a metal coat hanger. An item that I could easily access hundreds of, and they are an object that is not usually reused for purposes other then what they are originally intended for, or are recycled. The “hanger chair” being completely made from coat hangers shows the offset of use for the coat hanger. The coat hangers original use being to hold clothes, but now moving away from that and creating a chair, demonstrates the sustainability of the “hanger chair“. This object now serves a completely different purpose, highlighting its sustainability. A chair that serves a purpose and meaning in my life. With coat hangers being either used again until bent and which then cause them to become unusable, or coat hangers that are no longer needed which are disposed of into rubbish bins. With its life being ended after a single use. The “hanger chair” takes these disposed of and unwanted coat hangers and turns them into a small beautiful usable object. An object that can be used everyday as a chair or a sculptural piece of expression. Acting as a piece of personal expression and effort to others. A meaning of place inside an environment. The chair being able to be used as a chair or to be an expression of ones effort. Not only can this chair last but can be given to someone else so they can use and form meaning with the object. With the original purpose of a coat hanger being completely irrelevant, the “hanger chair” takes on a completely different meaning and usefulness.
Your connection, and meaning with a chair, whether it be consciously or sub-consciously, it is relevant and present. When you walk into your dining room and sit down in your chair at the dinning table you feel you have a place. You have your own small yet meaningful position at the table. If anyone else sits, or is about to sit in your spot you immediately explain to them why they cannot sit there in that spot, because it is your own. No one else’s but yours. Each person within your family also has their own spot on the dinning table. With the position of each persons seating arrangement never changing. As well when your family sits down to watch a movie, you each have your own position on the couch, no one ever changes place or would dare sit in someone else’s spot. Each person feels that their spot only has meaning to them, and because of this connection no one else should want to or be able to sit in that spot. A persons connection with this spot is only known and relevant to the one person who takes ownership of that seat. The reasons can only be understood and explained by oneself. A persons connection with their seat is present, its reasoning either be fond memories of fun or happy times spent in that spot, or the plain fact that they feel that their seat gives them a place, a place on the dinning table, a place in the household, or even a place in society.
When a person goes to a café to meet a friend for their annual lunch they almost all the time sub consciously sit in the same spot. Not taking notice of any other seats in the whole café. Always choosing to sit in their spot. And when that awful day comes when someone else sits in their spot, it just doesn’t feel right in another seat in another place of the café. It sometimes even comes to the point were you feel that you have the right to let them know that they are sitting in your spot. Why is this apparent? When a regular activity such as an annual lunch or dinner occurs, which you regularly sit in the same spot you form a connection with that spot. A connection from the great conversations or laughs that occurred while sitting in that particular spot. You form a bond with that spot. You have a place within that café, which is no one else’s but your own. Sometimes it evens occurs when you don’t even have to wait to be seated, the waiter or waitress knows you, and therefore knows your spot. The spot that is yours, even though you haven’t purchased that seat or made an agreement with the café over ownership of that spot, it is an unwritten connection or ownership of that spot.
So what is the reasoning for this common unwritten ownership. It is the connection with the seat, memories of fun and meaningful times. Special events that occurred while in that position and place. A connection that creates a place, a place that creates an ownership. As well the connection that society has with seating. In earlier times when the King was appointed his own royal thrown. No one was to even dare sit on it, with the penalty of death. The seat meant for one purpose to show an order of hierarchy. To show the King’s higher place within society. Totally disregarding the aesthetics of the chair, it was a symbol of power and place. The Kings place within society. This can be related to today’s social situations. But at a much lesser state. A person sub consciously takes into account the earlier meanings of a seat. A connection the creates a meaning of place. It causes the spawning of their place within that particular part of society. A place that is their’s only. The person does not care what the seat itself looks like, or even if it functions properly. They care about the place that it represents within the particular environment. The place that has so many memories and connections within it. A place that is their’s and no one else’s. A place that no one else could understand or take away from them.
As many people have meaning and connections with seat’s other then their particular uses, it is the same with me and my “hanger chair”. A chair that no one else would have the same connection with, a chair that is my own and no one else’s. But with this chair my meaning and connection becomes deeper, because of the fact that I created this chair myself. The build process being non thought out, the chair being created by whatever I was feeling I should do at that time. An expression on my own hands and mind. Whatever I felt in my head was then thrown out of my hands and into the chair. The chairs place in my room symbolises a place of my own, a place that only I can sit on, and own. Its meaningfulness noticed via my use. My use of sitting on it when sketching or writing down ideas. Or even placing my bag on it. Uses that only I posses. No one else would use this chair or have the connection with the chair that I do. It expresses my place within a room within my house. Whether it be in my lounge room, or my study it is my place to sit. My place to own. Everyone knows not to sit in my chair without me being present. Its use being portrayed by its meaning and its meaning being portrayed be its use.
Someone’s connection with a seat within an environment creates their place. As well an unwritten ownership over the particular seat. An ownership that is individual, its meanings being to that one person, and no one else. The meaning and connection only being understood and explained by the one who holds the connection. A place within an environment which is created by this connection, an individual connection, creating the place. A connection that creates a place, a place that creates an ownership. My “hanger chair” creates my own place within my house hold. A place which no one else can take away from me. A place which I only have a connection and meaning with. A use aside form sitting, being an expression of my emotion while building. A meaning which no one else would have or could understand without me explaining it to them. Its sustainability being portrayed by its material and its meaning to me. For me to give it or hand it down to someone it would mean that the person would understand its meaning and connection that I have with the object. With meaning there is usefulness.
