MARTHA ANDREWS
INTERIOR & ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGNER
Investigating aspects of culture throughout Scotland through experimental objects.
INDENTITY & CULTURE: EMOTIVE OBJECTS
This experimental object conveys my subjective interpretation of the impact of climate on the identity & culture of Scotland. The object has two different sides, one being a flat surface and the other made up of four different levels making it uneven. This idea came from looking at the effect of the undesirable weathers we often experience in Scotland on the people who live here and regularly encounter “four seasons in one day.” The flat side of the object represents how outsiders may consider the Scottish climate merely as a weather forecast, that’s if they even watch it. The uneven side looks more deeply into the adverse effects the climate may have on Scottish citizens and the consequences that may occur such as contributions depression and obesity levels.
"FOUR SEASONS IN ONE DAY"
For this object I investigated the architecture of Scotland from two extreme ends of the spectrum. Brutalist
architecture has a very prominent place on the skylines of Scottish cities but interestingly enough gets over looked by most visitors to the country. I created this abstract object to bring attention to this point. Stereotypically high rise flats have connotations of people living in poverty, often on government benefits and high crime rates. The buildings themselves do not help eliminate these stereotypes due to several practical factors especially their intolerance to wet climates (Scotland!). The grey, concrete buildings age very badly and the dull walls are often prone to graffiti. I wanted to highlight the contrast between these buildings which exist in excess with thousands of people living in them to the handful of “iconic” buildings that Scotland’s visitors come to see.
"SCOTTISH ARCHITECTURE"
2013