When I see a space where jain monks resides temporarily, I see a space that has an ever changing Identity. I see a shared space that Is free of bondage and limitations. I see a space holding great importance and respect despite being an empty room to a common observer. what makes this empty space so powerful? It's the people. It's the people and how they live.
The peaceful and uplifting aura around the space Is created by the monks as they live and practice enlightenment. That space inspires, heals and teaches people with nothing but the most basic objects needed to live a life.
The objects get their identity and power from the user. Since the objects do not have an identity, they become a flexible part of an ever changing space. This creates a space that is open and free from the bondage of colours, shapes, forms and objects.
This poses a question: How do you become focused in such an open space?
The answer is designing objects that helps the user to focus in an open environment.
We, people living in a materialistic world have adopted an opposite lifestyle.
In order to focus:
we live In closed spaces by surrounding ourselves with objects to create a forced focused space. The objects here creates a focused space.
monks live in open environment with minimal focused objects to focus. The objects here helps to focus.
I wanted to create an object that helps to focus on one thing in open space - I decided to make a thamni aka a book reading stand. It Is one of the objects used by monks and Is a well known object In the jain community. I started off by making a small book reading stand and observed It. I tried to look at it from all the angles by keeping it on the table and placing a book on it.
I remembered that the design was meant to be used sitting on the ground. Although people nowadays prefer sitting on a height. I then thought of making a bigger version of it which people can use while sitting on a chair. I thought of mimicking the same technique and design so it can be closed and opened whenever needed.
I was concerned about the space it would take because of its form so I changed the form of design and made it a solid structure. A structure that would look like a table but with an angled two-part top for only reading.
Maker (Workshop) notes
For marquetry, do not use hammer to Insert the pieces in place. always use a mallet if needed. Also make sure to not use mallet directly on the pieces. Place a spare piece of wood on top and use the mallet on it to avoid damaging, cracking or breaking wood.
Always use masking tape to avoid splinters on wood.
Cut the shape you want in other material (paper, cardboard) and trace it on the masking tape stuck on wood to avoid damage from measuring instruments or tools.
Make sure to use extra handling tools when working with smaller pieces on saw machine.
with the hand saw, make sure to go slow with full speed. do not reduce speed just because you are going slow. make sure to secure the machine with your arms and hands, make sure it is flat on the wood and a little away from the wood before starting.
always use spare piece of wood between the clamps to avoid dents or damage on the surface.
Try to add weights when sticking two piece of wood together
Stand in the direction of the horizontally rotating grid paper of sanding machine to avoid sudden pressure against the piece.
To decide which drilling bit is best for screws: hold the drilling bit ahead of screw and check to make sure only threads of the screws are visible.
Just as I was completing this piece, it was pointed out that the object do not feel like a jain object. perhaps because of its colours or the structure. What does look like a jain object is the smaller model I first made. it is simple, clean and purposeful.
It made me realise that I overlooked effect of colours on simplicity. I was also looking at space from a limited perspective. I was asked to question myself. what is space? what is too much space? when I pointed out the space constraints of first design. It made sense to me. That's when I also started thinking of space and how the object will act, look and feel in different spaces.
"Have confidence in making simple products"
"It's about expanding the parameters of acceptable change" CARAGH MCMURTRY
I decided to complete the design I was working on and start another model which Is much simpler.
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