Page 2 - MIVC 602.Y Final Book W1510069 Lim Tee Kiang Joanathan

“THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF SCIENTISTS TODAY WHO BELIEVE THAT BEFORE VERY LONG WE SHALL HAVE UNRAVELED ALL THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE. THERE WILL

BE NO PUZZLES ANYMORE. TO ME, IT’D BE REALLY, REALLY TRAGIC BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS IS THIS FEELING OF MYSTERY, FEELING OF AWE,

THE FEELING OF LOOKING AT A LITTLE LIVE THING AND BEING AMAZED BY IT AND HOW IT HAS EMERGED THROUGH THESE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF EVOLUTION AND

THERE IT IS AND IT IS PERFECT AND WHY.” — JANE GOODALL

PREFACE

Observation, research and understanding all hold a key part to developing a conceptual idea to a physical design and presence. Sand and Gravel is an art and

science collaboration that focuses on the study of microfossils in the field of micropalaeontology. It aids in the reconstruction of the lost nature in our current era. In
the midst of reconstruction, what could be better than to tap into the source of primal nature for answers and a diagram of the untouched?

This project explores a group of microfossils that reside in lake, river and the sea beds. Some microfossils are preserved by layers of sand and gravel which helps

to determine the age of the fossils. The deeper they are, the older the microfossils would be. The natural preservation of sand became the reason I chose glass and

ceramics as my material selection due to its link with the material Silica. It is a mineral content that is most commonly found in sand and is an important part of the
process of fossilsation. Both glass and ceramics possesses the content of silica and works as a medium to aid in the narration of “Sand and Gravel”

The project first shows initial sketches in the studies of fossils and leads to the discovery of interesting form makings in glasswork. Afterwhich, it was further explored

as a biophillic product in the direction of ceramics. It has been crafted organically to be used as a product to bring a touch of nature to us and to relieve us a little
from our urban environment. As I analysed the functionality of the cellwall/shell, the notion was to protect the organic matter within the walls and to populate life.

Apart from creating biophilic designs, I created indoor garden wares that advocates the idea of “life within”. “Sand and Gravel ultimately works on the idea of

reconstucting nature using diagrams of the past to move forward to the future with an eco conscious mind.