Image Courtesy of Joseph Walsh
A source of fuel and material of choice to create primitive tools for hunting and shelter, wood is one of the oldest and most used materials man has used in over a millennia. Wood has a diverse set of qualities as it is hard, fibrous, a great transport of nutrients and a great valued resource in our ecosystem. This wonderful material has become Joseph Walsh's creative journey. A self taught designer and Irish born, Joseph Walsh expresses his passion and imagination through his work ethic and commitment to exploring the depth and potential of wood as structure, form, material, technology and ecology. We are no strangers to his work as he has been very busy during this year; we covered his Formations work back in January. His work is a testament to the beauty of pursuing the mastery of a material and exploring a life's work by learning from each experience. His wood pieces move like the wind, bend like paper, mold like clay and have the strength of bone. We continue to be delighted by the potential wood has and await every project Walsh does to rediscover this material wonder.
Image Courtesy of Joseph Walsh
The Enignum canopy bed is a new piece to his Formations collection as it embraces and protects, creating a personal environment beyond its function. It invites the user to be sheltered in a natural translation indoors. The natural environment of sleeping under a canopy fed into his process; he explored cutting wood into thin layers and free form bending of the wood to its natural extension of elasticity. Not only does the process achieve a natural shelter but also exposes the humility and potential of how collaboration between man and material can create innovative products. With works in the Mint Museum in North Carolina, the American Irish Historical Society in NYC and The Pavilion of Art & Design in London, Joseph will have an exciting and busy rest of the year.
Image Courtesy of Joseph Walsh
The Enignum canopy bed
Designer: Joseph Walsh
Maker: W/WORKSHOP - Fergus Gahan and Ryan Connolly
Material: Ash and Organza Silk.
Year: 2010
Edition: Each Bed is a one of a kind
Image Courtesy of Joseph Walsh
