Dealing with Feelings

Conceptual furniture

Smeeing created this project whilst reflecting on his professional identity. He was not satisfied with the digital design work he had been focusing on and felt the need to go back to working with his hands again. Globalisation and digitalisation are influencing us in a changing world. The conceptual furniture piece was questioning if the disappearing crafts could be good for our mental health and our wellbeing and if they could be used as meditation. Dealing with Feelings provided the option to deal with feelings through practicing the craft of weaving. By weaving the walls of the small house a comfortable space and shelter was created to escape the pressure of the fast-paced world outside. Anchoring identity in the action of crafts, resulted in concrete artefacts of feeling.

Dealing with Feelings was among other works selected to represent Finland in the 2011 Cheongju International Craft Biennale, one of the largest events in the field of contemporary craft. Titled Between Tradition and Future, the exhibition showed experimental craft and contemporary design from Finland. Smeeing demonstrated the use of his conceptual furniture piece in the exhibition by weaving inside the piece. 

Year : 2011

Exhibited at : Cheongju International Craft Biennale