Ecume, 2024
Self Initiated
Design: Oscar Massaud

As part of a research project on materials, Oscar wanted to explore the notions of movement and transformation through the design of an experimental stool. Fascinated by craftsmanship and traditional know-how, he quickly turned to foundry work, a field in which matter passes from a fluid to a solid state, capturing the precise instant of a mutation.  In his process, hydrogel bubbles were placed in the mold cavities. During casting, molten aluminum seeps between these bubbles and solidifies on contact with the moisture on their surface. This thermal shock creates a porous, irregular structure resembling a metal anthill. The randomness of the material is thus partially controlled by the constraints imposed by the mold, creating a surface between density and emptiness, between mastery and accident. To bring this experimentation to fruition, Oscar visited the foundry GAM in La Sarraz (Vaud, Switzerland) that specializes in aluminum and sand casting. There, he met Mathieu, a passionate craftsman who was intrigued by his experimental approach. Their exchange was rich in learning, as Mathieu shared techniques and know-how often used in artistic projects. This collaboration reinforced Oscar’s desire to explore this technique further, understanding how to combine tradition and innovation within the same process.