Future Remnants
Metal in relation
to time.
2023
Metal in relation
to time.
2023
My capstone project was a series of metal stools as an exploration of time. Using a familiar material, steel, in a different context than where it is most often seen, in order to talk through the temporalities we assign to certain materials. We put our faith in steel to hold up our buildings, bridges, and world but rarely do we acknowledge the material for what it is, remarkable. Born of stellar nucleosynthesis and deposited in the earth’s crust, metal spans across time like few other materials and as such deserves a degree of reverence.
Future Remnants is a celebration of metal in a more personal context; as furniture pieces that will likely exist long after their inception. Each form is made of 10 gauge hot rolled mild steel. Each form was cut out of sheet, has at least one element that was bent to a degree and was welded back into a new formation.
Future Remnants is a celebration of metal in a more personal context; as furniture pieces that will likely exist long after their inception. Each form is made of 10 gauge hot rolled mild steel. Each form was cut out of sheet, has at least one element that was bent to a degree and was welded back into a new formation.
- Future Remnants – all together.
- Form No. 01: Manta –
The first form in metal is a simple construction consisting of a circular top surface and three bent and tapered legs welded to the circular surface. It stands 18” tall and stretches 16” diameter. Hard lines on the legs of the structure are contrasted with soft organic lines shining silver on the surface.
- No. 01 with shadows.
- No. 01 closeup.
- Form. No. 02: Refraction –
The second form is a more rigid structure consisting of five pieces welding together. It stands 18” tall, 16” wide and 18” long. An exciting thing happens to steel when enough heat is applied, it changes colour dramatically. The colours on the surfaces of this form came from applying heat with an acetylene torch for about two hours until the metal had absorbed enough heat to bring about the colour change.
- No. 02 different side.
- No. 02 top surface.
- Form No. 03: Spotted –
The third form is a visual continuation of the first. It takes the structure and semantics of No. 1 and extends them into a new configuration. It is the one that breaks the conventions of the other forms in this series. It is 36” at it’s tallest although the horizontal surface remains at 18” tall but 14” in diameter. The texture on the surface is from surface rust that had corroded through the black coating from the processed steel but it results in a beautiful pattern that can never be precisely replicated.
- Form No. 03 back surface texture.
- Form No. 03 side view.
- Form No. 04: Reef –
The fourth and final form is a continuation of the second. The dimensions have increased and the methods have been refined. It is still five pieces welded together, but now it is 21” long, still 18” tall and 16″ wide. The colour treatment on this form follows the same ideas as for Form No. 2 but with a more even heating. The colour change of steel happens in stages, first the steel darkens then turns brown, then dark purple to dark blue to light blue and finally white. To draw out these colours evenly the form was put in a kiln usually used for ceramics and heated to 400° celsius for 30 min. The results were an unexpected bronze-gold colour over most of the piece that gradiates to orange and purple and blue in other areas. This final form is the culmination of everything learned from the first three, it is technically refined and visually stunning.
- Form. No. 04 closeup.
- Form No. 04 other side.
- Future Remnanst in exhibition at Emily Carr University Grad show 2023.
About Me
Hello, my name is Karla Erasmus and I’m an industrial designer currently practicing in Vancouver BC, located on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I graduated from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in May 2023.
Hello, my name is Karla Erasmus and I’m an industrial designer currently practicing in Vancouver BC, located on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I graduated from Emily Carr University of Art and Design in May 2023.
Scope of Work
Over the past few years I’ve become familiar with a variety of materials and process and types of design. I’ve worked with wood, textiles, and metal as my primary materials but I love to explore unfamiliar materials. In addition to traditional design (furniture and product) I’m also interested in jewelery design as well as engaging in speculative and critical design.
Over the past few years I’ve become familiar with a variety of materials and process and types of design. I’ve worked with wood, textiles, and metal as my primary materials but I love to explore unfamiliar materials. In addition to traditional design (furniture and product) I’m also interested in jewelery design as well as engaging in speculative and critical design.