‘wood casting’ by hilla shamia

israel-based product designer hilla shamia has always been interested with the imperfections within controlled products. on show during milan design week 2012, ‘wood casting’ is made from a whole tree trunk that enabled shamia to preserve the natural form of the piece while still having distinct boundaries in its creation. the square shape allows a sense of artificiality while leaving the memory of the material. molten aluminum is poured directly onto the wooden the surface which burns the exterior. the plank is then cut lengthwise and inserted with  a frame to define its final structure.

the casting process is accompanied with high heat, flames and smoke. when the metal is cooled down and the mold breaks apart, the furniture piece reveals the dark border between the hot metal and wood. the object is a result of its process which outlines the materials, enabling us to observe the leakage of aluminum and the carbonized wood which is frozen in time. similar to nature, the final produce is unique, where no two pieces are identical. the incompleteness and randomness give the product its aesthetic value.

wood casting by hilla shamia - 2 console and stool

  wood casting by hilla shamia - 3 stool made of cape lilac wood and aluminium

wood casting by hilla shamia - 4 melted aluminum and dry wood

wood casting by hilla shamia - 5 liquid aluminum

wood casting by hilla shamia - 6 aluminum reacting with wood

wood casting by hilla shamia - 7 the casting process with high heat, flames and smoke

wood casting by hilla shamia - 8 a family of cypress wood

wood casting by hilla shamia - 9

a whole tree trunk

wood casting by hilla shamia - 10 preserving the natural form while still having clear boundaries

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