Comments

1. 
   just wanted to know | Oct 30, 2008 04:23am | #1

   That is cool.

2. 
   kevink | Oct 31, 2008 02:02am | #2

   Simon -
   This is a great piece. I'd love to see/read more about this technique. Please post more pics.

   Thanks,
   Kevin

3. 
   simon king | Oct 31, 2008 06:48pm | #3

   Thanks for the positive comments.
   I spent two years living in the Cook Islands teaching design and woodwork and during that time i became very interested in the traditions of wood joinery that evolved in the absence of metal. These traditions are most evident in the construction of buildings and canoes. Pieces of wood are generally shaped to fit together and lashed using a variety of techniques with coconut sennit. In some situations the lashing takes on a significant decorative role, particularly in the construction of public buildings and I found much evidence of this in Samoa. Apart from visiting museums to see examples of pacific island canoes, the Bishop Museum in Hawaii has a number of excellent publications showing details of canoe building techniques, though most are out of print. http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/press/web/quicksearch.asp
   I am very busy preparing my students for their end of year assessments at the moment but I will post some more pictures and links in a couple of weeks.

4. 
   JasonT | Nov 04, 2008 02:52am | #4

   how big is this dimensionally?

5. 
   simon king | Nov 04, 2008 06:02am | #5

   About 600 x 400 x 100mm

6. 
   leoffric | Nov 09, 2008 05:50pm | #6

   Nice work. So many of the pieces in this gallery are very designed and very finished and seem to come from somewhere else, which ,of course, they do.
   As a 5th generation pakeha kiwi I am interested in what might NZ furniture look like?? The answers haven't been quick in coming, so I've thought its enough to just do what I do with eyes and ears open. Recently I thumbed through Betty Norbury's gorgeous book "bespoke", showing current british work. As I enjoyed it I thought "Is there any work in here that is similar to work I do?"
   Well, yes, some pieces are.... so my work is connected to the western tradition
   But also, no, there is nothing as simple, minimal, direct in its purpose as some of the work I do.
   Your work is these things and more
   Your work is quite raw.
   Kumete touched me immediately