International Museum Day

Monday 18^th May 2020 is International Museum Day, an event that has been running since 1977 with the objective of raising awareness that museums are an important agency for cultural exchange. Last year 37,000 museums across the world participated in this celebration from 158 different countries and territories. This year’s theme is ‘Museums for equality: diversity and inclusion’.

In light of recent events here in the UK, MoDiP is not physically open at present but we are trying to maintain our online presence in these difficult times. We had hoped to mark International Museum Day with a series of activities in the museum to share with our multi-cultural community at AUB. As this is not now possible, we thought we would use this blog instead to feature some of the museum objects that have inspired our students, past and present, illustrating our belief that design in plastics has no boundaries and is for everyone.

Heida Jonsdottir (Iceland), BA (Hons) Fashion

Object chosen: Jelly plate, AIBDC : 006877

As I walked into the MoDiP museum, one particular thing caught my eye. A beautifully crafted, semi-transparent bowl with flowing features and a blueish hue. I returned a few times to the museum, but I was always drawn to this bowl. The pattern of the bowl and its blue colour reminds me of water, with one exception: water is chaotic, unpredictable and irregular while the pattern of the bowl is consistent and systematic. Maybe, the reason I am drawn to it is that I relate to it, a highly organised and systematic person studying something as chaotic as art. It made me wonder if I could achieve the same flowing shapes in my work, in garments as the shapes in the bowl, so I decided to try to make a pattern that would make the fabric behave similarly.

Garments representing the feel and movement of the Jelly plate, designed in Clo3D, a pattern cutting and virtual prototyping system. 

Image ref: https://www.modip.ac.uk/projects/residencies/heida-jonsdottir

Dorine Bessière (France), MA Commercial Photography

Object chosen: Disposable cutlery, AIBDC : 007041

Plastic made of oil is a great invention by being cheap, flexible, friendly and very solid…but it is also a pollutant material, very difficult to recycle, and creates many environmental issues. For my project, I decided to focus on plastic consumption. Have you ever thought about how many toothbrushes you have bought and how many you will throw away in your life?

I selected to photograph a range of disposable objects from our everyday life that are manufactured, bought, used and thrown away in mass quantities. By accumulating them in pictures I wanted to awaken the viewer's eye and mind.

Using Photoshop software, I cut out each object in order to create different repetitive patterns.

Image ref: https://www.modip.ac.uk/projects/residencies/dorine-bessiere

Yudit Lee (Korea), BA (Hons) Modelmaking 

Object chosen: Valentine typewriter, AIBDC : 005603

As a final major project for my 3rd year, I choose to make a 2/3rd scale product model of the Olivetti Valentine Typewriter, designed by Ettore Sottsass. I was fascinated by the bright red colour of the typewriter: when I first saw it in MoDiP, I couldn’t take my eyes off it! The innovative design has the power to instantly brighten the mood of the room and grab everyone’s attention. 

Using CAD software, Fusion 360, I modelled the typewriter to produce technical drawings. I then used different machinery and techniques, such as the lathe, CNC router and 3D printing, to produce the product model, shown here with all the componentry laid out before final assembly. 

Image ref: Yudit Lee

Hirunkorn Nikornsaen (Thailand), MA Illustration

Object chosen: Packing tape basket, AIBDC : 005742

I saw the plastic shopping basket on display in the museum and it reminded me of the way we use it in Thailand, which is my home country. It’s a Thai pop traditional basket and is made from recycled plastic straps. We weave them together. We, the Thai people, only use this basket for grocery shopping at the fresh market in Thailand. I produced an illustration to show how we use it in Thailand, in the local lifestyle.

AUB Illustration students were asked to create a piece of work in response to an artefact in the museum. 

Image ref: https://www.modip.ac.uk/engagement/inspiring-case-studies/illustrative-response

Jak Hansford (Britain), MA Fine Art

Object chosen: Eve fruit bowl, AIBDC : 006731

My choice of objects had mundane functions but innovative shape and form within their design. I found this a bit tricky as in the past I have focused on the mundane and then redesigned. The fact that these items have existing design quality meant it would be more exciting to push how I think or see them differently.

My final piece showcased the energetic and playful attributes that the artefacts I chose hold. While I started focusing on one MoDiP object at a time, the project developed, and I began seeing the potential of the objects together and intermingled especially through collage. The still life imagery I created could offer more than my singular drawings could. By this I mean the space around and interaction between each object and how this provides intrigue and interest.

The final piece, 180cm x 40cm, is one of the biggest tufted works I have ever produced. 
 
Image ref: http://museumofdesigninplastics.blogspot.com/2020/04/student-creative-jak-hansford.html

If you are interested in accessing MoDiP’s collections to inspire your own research, you can still use our images during this period of closure. Please credit them to 'Museum of Design in Plastics, Arts University Bournemouth' and we would love to hear from you to find out what you have done and which objects you have chosen. 

MoDiP's catalogue can be viewed online and our Residencies and Inspiring case studies illustrate a variety of ways in which others have used the collection as a resource for creative inspiration and object-based learning.

#StayHomeSaveLives

Katherine Pell, Collections Officer.