PENADES

Uprooted explores not just the complexities but also the new possibilities of the olive oil industry in Spain. The first outcome of this ongoing 10-year project investigates the potential of the part of the tree that grows below the ground instead of the ones above.

The second face of the project marks the evolution of the research into a comprehensive exhibition. Curated by Seetal Solanki, the show consisted on a visual essay by photographer Max Creasy, a material interview and a furniture collection.

A material interview? Yes. Roots grow with a completely different logic than trunks and the existing wood-making knowledge, based on tree trunks, do not make sense for roots. In order to understand how to work with this part of the tree, I designed a material interview to olive tree roots: 99 questions were asked to explore the material’s reactions to various stimuli, both manual and mechanical. The knowledge gained from the material interview informed the design of the resulting furniture collection.

The third face of the project concentrates on a furniture collection made completely from olive tree roots. By embracing the natural properties of this special part of the tree, the project underscores the material’s narrative and values material engagement over industrial standardization. The resulting pieces, simultaneously functional and sculptural, aim to balance the natural inconsistency of the material and the meticulous craftsmanship required to make them. The objects, all finished with virgin olive oil includes: a library, a coffee table, two chairs, a wall lamp, two side tables and two wall shelves.