Though process often precedes design, “Origin part III: Contrast” proves that this sequence can be reversed in producing graceful and informed art. Artists Boaz Cohen and Sayaka Yamamoto of BCXSY collaborated with c (loosely translated from Irish Gaelic to mean “workers of the sea”), a charitable maritime educational center based in Cork City of Ireland, to bring to the light the artistic qualities in the traditional craftsmanship of Irish boat construction. “Contrast” features a collection of home furnishings – Side-Table, Stool, Fruit-Bowl, and Serving-Tray – and each of the pieces derives its origin from a particular experience witnessed by Cohen and Yamamoto during their visit to Meitheal Mara. Side-Table is a simple intersection of a circle, rectangle, and triangle such that the top plane is held in place; the clever composition offers both stability as well as an acknowledgment of a crucial tool, the clamp, in building a ship. Other inspirations include the steaming and bending of wooden veneer, which in BCXSY’s vision translates into gently curved bowls that also display a white strip of paint mimicking the waterline on boats. All the pieces are constructed of light timber and accented in white, capturing the nautical beauty that Meitheal Mara aims to promote.
