Jarrad Belton, Mycena table (ART & OBJECTS 2025)

Country

United Kingdom (Great Britain)

Inspired by the intricate form of mushrooms and mycelium networks within forest ecosystems. The entire piece has been meticulously carved out using finely tuned hand tools, utilizing the growth patterns and phototropism of the tree to form the figure. Rather than subjecting the timber to steam bending a forced shape or creating laminations from thin strips and adding harmful chemicals to hold them together. This is as close as I could get to allowing the tree create the art itself. The timber selection was a very important consideration during the making of this piece. I have chosen pale, luminescent sycamore. A tree that according to tradition, must be cut in the light of the full moon. You will notice within the piece the timber contains darker patches and some colour differences. I did not want to use pure white sycamore as doing so would be a disservice to the true individual beauty of the tree. I have found within the industry there can be an antiquated mindset to utilise only the cleanest and purest of timber, often from rarer stocks and cutting out any imperfections. I do not belong to this ethos. The timber used in this piece depicts the struggles and triumphs of the tree when it was once living. Stains, colour imperfections and tiny knots are all found within. It is detrimental that we start adopting this attitude towards working with this material. In the midst of the climate crisis we cannot be so rapacious with timber selection, instead learning to live and work with what is available and responsibly sourced. This specific piece is not finished with oil or wax, instead it is left raw to remain in harmony with the concept that this work conveys. It seems to have grown into existence, invoking a strong message of our interaction with the natural world. Another concept this piece explores, is the psychical life cycle of furniture and the importance of investing in and cherishing high quality craftsmanship. Some of the joinery has been completed with the use of a hand held CNC machine, this is a direct contrast to the refined, heritage hand skills that have been utilised to carve the underside and overall form. The reason for this contrast is to pay homage to the inevitable change found in evolution and nature. Embracing modern, cutting edge technology whilst also utilising my knowledge of traditional hand skills is what makes this piece quite special. Change is inevitable, progress is optional. I hope that this piece will inspire people to consider our relationship with nature. Often in this day and age it is easy to feel disassociated, but it is important to be reminded that we are all from here. We are a part of nature. I think this appreciation and understanding mindset towards the environment is particularly crucial for furniture makers and designers. We are at the forefront of using a material that is completely natural, it is fundamental that we use it responsibly.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.