UKRay Report post Posted March 24, 2011 Earlier this year I was privileged to meet a charming and rather unusual British artist called Rowan Mersh. Rowan, a graduate of the the Royal College of Arts, wanted a leatherworking machine to form part of his art installation at Harrods, in London. I had a thoroughly enjoyable morning with Rowan and his team of mechanics/designers and they took away an ancient pair of Newey, drum fed, press stud setting machines to convert into his 'dream machine'. Rowan's plan was to link his finished machine directly to a leatherworker, working in the window of Harrod's store in London. A computer would track the heartbeat of the leatherworker and transfer the data to the machine which would then punch out holes in leather strips to correspond with the heart rate. These would be linked with steel rods to form a piece of artwork - still with me? Okay, I confess, I lost it about that point - until today! Rowan has just sent me this collection of pictures of the event. The colours are amazing, but it was the concept that absolutely delighted me - mostly because I had never even considered using leather in this way - and also because of the direct link between the artisan and the finished work. See what you think. I have also attached the artist's proposal for the project and his explanatory document. Enjoy! Ray Future_By_Artisan.pdf Future_by_Artisan_Diagram.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luke Hatley Report post Posted March 24, 2011 Awsum story.......Did he tell you how many square feet of leather was used. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted March 24, 2011 I guess i'm just plain ole stupid cause i don't get it. Whats it's supposed to be when it's done ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ferg Report post Posted March 25, 2011 I guess i'm just plain ole stupid cause i don't get it. Whats it's supposed to be when it's done ? Guess I missed this one also. Seems a lot of work for a very unusual waste of leather. LOL ferg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted March 25, 2011 Surely art doesn't have to be anything tangible, it just has to give pleasure in some way. Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stanly Report post Posted March 25, 2011 Surely art doesn't have to be anything tangible, it just has to give pleasure in some way. Ray I agree - Cristo comes to mind.... Though the pragmatic side says it's a bunch of belts stitched together, then pushed onto rods. AND the leatherworker's heartbeat doesn't have much to do with it except an element of variation (minor at that). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted March 25, 2011 Whatever... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jazznow Report post Posted March 26, 2011 I'm no art expert, but i like the idea Thank you for sharing, Ray. Greetinngs, Jonathan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ladykahu Report post Posted March 28, 2011 Wow! I really like it Who knew our heart rate changed that much doing similar tasks.. mind you thinking about it.. mine probably goes up when I am cutting, always afraid I will make a mistake. thanks for posting this and its good to see a leatherworker on show in such a prestigious place :-) Natalie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tat2 Report post Posted April 20, 2011 ya just amazing, I wish there was a video feed of the event!! Amzing how talented people can be AND to have old machiner to be modifed to punch out a heart beat!!!! sign me up! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
