Kajsa Melchior’s Fictive Erosion Resembles Natural Rock Formations

The series was exhibited at the 2020 Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair. Its concept is rooted in envisaging an idealistic future where machine manufacturing is prohibited for the sake of preserving the earth’s resources. “Geology is a great source of inspiration,” explains Melchior. “‘Fictive Erosion’ consists of collections which all derive from a future scenario where human machines are banned due to environmental issues,” she says. “The collections are speculative results of an ongoing investigation of how to adapt formation processes in nature into design methods.” The organic silhouettes of each table, lamp, and stool were individually crafted through a process referred to as sand casting. “The sculptures are made from sand that has been exposed to forces such as wind and water, but also from pressure created by the human body,” she continues. Each furniture piece is developed with Alabaster in sand; a mineral or rock that is soft and useful for carving. Melchior uses air and water guns, and her own hands to manipulate the sand into her desired forms. This experimental method creates a unique shape on each piece, leaving the structure on the Alabaster to create its own, stone-like material. The collection is an aesthetically-pleasing reminder that ‘perfect’ looking results should not be the objective—and that by taking cues from natural processes, we can consider new ways to produce.