Although we've already covered Reclaim x2 fairly extensively at this point, it's easy to overlook details such as, say, the actual texture of the felt chair or the concept behind Emilie Baltz's dyadic infusions. If it wasn't clear from the photos of the Bonus Table 571—which it by no means should have been—it was made with enzymes. Bushwick-based design duo Colleen & Eric (whom we'd previously covered at ICFF in 2011) collaborated with bioengineer Loe Hubbard and sound designer Ben Cameron on the small side table, which features a cryptic Rorschach design on its surface. They explain:
Pure tones tuned to the natural resonant frequency of the wood result in vibrations, determined by the tabletop's size shape and density. The vibrations reveal a geometric pattern inherent to the wood.
The resonant pattern is etched away by an enzyme cocktail tailored to the molecular structure of the wood. This process is similar to acid-etching a metal plate, such as in printmaking. The difference is that this is based on a live process; using enzymes derived from forest floor microbes.
Perhaps we should refer to the video:
According the the project description, Bonus Table 571's "design elements are defined by interactions between its components and their inherent properties," such that "the dimensions and density of the materials determine it's resonant frequency which informs the pattern to be etched, and the makeup of the wood itself determines how deeply the enzymes etch into the wood." I'm no dendrologist, but I'm also seeing the telltale circular pattern of a speaker cone in the design—mediated by the properties of hte material, but discernible nonetheless...
The Bonus Table 571 will be on view tomorrow morning at Reclaim x2, 446 Broadway, 3rd Floor.