The reintroduction of Nature in Life of Man by MINISTRY OF MASS

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这是成立于2012年的MINISTRY OF MASS 首个系列作品：The reintroduction of Nature in Life of Man.作品里包含了对现代生产和消费文化的批判。西方社会的冷漠工业化作品越来越多，而思考自然的手工作品因为稀缺而变得更有价值。MINISTRY OF MASS旨在创建一系列带有反思自然与人关系的作品，并让它们进入人们的生活。他们认为西方文化在应对自然缺乏四个方面的要素：反思，耐心，专注，释放。

这系列中共包含四个作品：钻石，高脚凳，灯，摆动件。

钻石:是一个混凝土做成的坚硬钻石状物体，混凝土在当今是我们构筑新世界的基本材料，钻石却是没什么作用的高价值奢侈品。两者的结合借由让人们重新思考两种材料及其内在属性而对一些企业的价值观做出批评。

高脚凳：所有人造的物品也属于自然，人不可以没有约束的凌驾与自然之上。这座像灯塔般的高脚凳需要被耐心的对待，他的腿部外表面适合生长苔藓，当苔藓附着在凳子上，这个高脚凳将是环境中完美的产物，而苔藓死去其具备的完美性也不存在。这个高脚凳让我们思考如何耐心处理人与自然世界的隔阂。

灯：极致的关注在现在已经相当罕见，世上的人们每天都要面对那海量的信息刺激。光使得我们白天可以工作，而到了夜晚，进行安静的生活。但是现代人到了夜晚也是灯火通明的折腾。这款看起来具有分量的灯具，灯光具有得到专注性关注的力量。

摆动：摆动则意味着暂时放弃安全和控制，若是要头脑活跃，就得背离习惯和套路，这样才能经久不衰的突破和挑战。没有放开手也就不会有新见解。若要控制就得不到释放。

MINISTRY OF MASS
Series n. 01
The reintroduction of Nature in Life of Man
2012
Coupure links 97, 9000 Gent

MINISTRY OF MASS
Series n.01

The reintroduction of Nature in Life of Man

The Ministry of Mass is a collective of makers founded in 2012 to provide comments, criticism and reflection on our current practices as a producing and consuming culture. Western Culture is drifting away from its natural state towards an artificial state characterised by hyperconsumption, overabundance, indifference and partial attention. Consumers are presented with more choice than ever and the quality of the bulk of products has sunk to never seen lows. The remaining critical mass makes efforts to avoid the lifestyles of hyperconsumption adopted by the masses and searches for valuable objects. These objects are becoming more and more valuable as they become more scarce.

Our goal is to create a series of objects that reflect on the diminishing relation between Man and Nature and ascertains a new perspective. We wish to create a series of objects that reintroduce Nature in the Life of Man. Objects that matter. We have studied four aspects that are deficiently represented in Western Culture yet essential for the return to our natural state. These four aspects: Reflection, Patience, Focus and Release provide a basis for the objects.

Series n. 01
The reintroduction of Nature in Life of Man

n. 01
Diamond

The Diamond is a solid rock of ambiguous character, consisting out of concrete and shaped like a diamond. The paradox it contains is no airy matter.

Concrete has formed our world by giving us the ability to construct in new ways. Diamonds, the ultimate object of desire have no real impact on our way of life although their superlative qualities that superceed their usability have intrigued us for ages. The Diamond has with it’s shape rendered the concrete useless and claims it’s new position as an object of reflection and desire.

The Diamond compels to reevaluate materials and their intrinsic properties while criticizing our perception driven culture.

n. 02
Stool

All things Man made are part of Nature. It is an illusion to think that Man can transcend Nature and make objects that are not bound by it’s laws.

The stool, vaguely reminiscing of a lighthouse by the shore, sheds light on a new way of dealing with objects. The Stool demands patience of Man. It’s color palette is completed when moss grows on it’s concrete parts. Making the Stool’s perfection dependant on the life around it. When the moss perishes the Stool’s powerful thrichotomy in color and material will perish with it.

The Stool raises questions on how we deal with our environment and preludes the practice of fading the separation between Man’s created world and Nature.

n. 03
Lamp

Focussed attention has become very rare. In our world of constant diversion and partial attention, Man is being reconditioned to constantly react to new stimuli, making it challenging to concentrate.

Light enables us to work independent of nature’s day and night rhytm. It frees us from Nature’s dictate of time. Whereas life used to calm down at night and Man had the opportunity to reflect on the days work, he now is overwhelmed, even at night, with the flickering glory of distraction.

Our Lamp’s quintessence of weight makes it laborious to direct it’s light thus stimulating undivided focus and attention.

n. 04
Swing

The swing takes up the most daring challenge of all. It must persuade Man to temporarily abandon all sense of security and control.

To keep one’s mind brisk and spry it is crucial to release it from its own habits and wonts. To free Man from his ever unfailing sense of duty he must be introduced to the notion of play. What better way to achieve this than challenging the power of gravity on the erratic sway of the swing?

When Man regrasps control, after experiencing the favorable effects of play, his mind suddenly leaps to new insights. No mastery without release.

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