These are some material precedents that will relate to my project ideas and aid me in the creation of my sculptural object. These include methods of making, joining, finishing, etc. that highlight significance for my own design work and the evolution of creating my 3 dimensional installation.
The overall theme I want my sculpture to encapsulate is natural and primitive. I wish to pay homage to the Japanese culture of Zen and meditation. With my client’s collection of plants this will be a harmonious collaboration of the two.
Bamboo

The organic and natural material is used in parts of Asia and even in more urban cities such as Hong Kong. It is said to be more strong and flexible than Steel. It is easily available in these parts of the world, and cheaper since there is less process in creating these bamboo poles than steel or other metals and it is grown locally. They can be easily discarded and re-used for other purposes without much impact on the environment. It is a common construction material for centuries in China, thus is a well trusted method in creating a stable structure with the right tying techniques. It is one of the most fastest growing plants on earth and it self multiplies due to its root system. It is light-weight, faster to put up and take down than steel and has a higher tensile strength thus making it more flexible and easier to manipulate than steel. This material will be a suitable choice as the main frame of my structure as the layout is very similar to a temporary scaffolding structure, thus I will hopefully get trustworthy results using bamboo as it has been used for centuries in this way.
Traditional Bamboo Lashing

Lashing is a primitive method of binding and fastening one thing to another using a cord or rope of some sort. It is more effective than metal fastenings. This method does not use glue or drilling, therefore it is a non-destructive technique for materials and minimises the use of equipment. I find it is a sustainable method of creating as it does not damage the structure of the materials, and uses minimal additions. All is needed is a tying rope and this could be natural and biodegradable. Since it does not damage the material, after its use, the objects and rope could be untied and used for another project. In my opinion, it is a great way of preserving materials so they can be recycled in another fashion without comprising their integrity.
Japanese square lashing is a fast alternative to other fastening techniques and I found it is a very tight binding method as there was minimal movement laterally and vertically with the two bamboo sticks. Traditionally, this knot is used with natural fibre rope to secure bamboo and other architectural structures in Japan. It is used by many Scouts since discovered by British Scouter John Thurman in 1962 during his tour in Japan. To note, this technique is used to secure bamboo sticks at right angles to each other. This will be a great method to tie my structure together and able to hold my plant, the main feature and purpose of the sculpture.
Weaving

The process of weaving can be done with Bamboo canes or Rattan which is also another type of cane. The strips are interlaced at right angles or plaited and woven. It is traditionally done in Southeast Asia such as Japan and China. This technique creates an air of relaxation and natural sophistication to an environment as it is a carefully intricate design yet organic. There are many ways of weaving the canes, some are more time consuming than others however give more strength and durability to the overall structure. Historically, cane was clean and hygienic making it very popular in furniture as parasites, mites and bugs had no place to live in the weave and over time the patterns have become more dense and intricate. The more densely traditional patterned texture will be a significant addition to my sculpture as this will act as a supporting base to house my client’s plant collection and my pattern can be woven around the bamboo structure, similar to how cane is woven around furniture frames.
Coir

Also known as coconut fibre, it is natural fibre and extracted from the outer husk of a coconut and used in products such as floor mats, brushes, baskets and pots. It is recently popular as a potting mix and organic soil as it increases air porosity. The fibrous material is strong, water resistant, slower to decompose than peat, lightweight and resistant to mold, fungus and pests. It is also sustainable as it is a by-product, bio-degradable, renewable and eco-friendly. This makes it a fitting material to house my plant in the form of a plant pot and possibly use in the soil mix.