Andrea Branzi and Kenya Hara. PreHistory Exhibit. Another great designer that inspired me on this trip was Andrea Branzi, extremely sad that I missed his talk, but hopefully, I was able to understand his message. His 100 power verbs took me into an unexpected journey—from our dark ages into this new technological age. The creation of our survival tools only marks the beginning of what the human hand can create. It can design many wonderful artifacts, but it can also destroy… if allowed. I loved that the ending element was not a glimpse into the future, but rather a conscious decision to investigate the past. To organize, become aware and REGENERATE the past for progress … “just like the way life begins.” The exhibition electrified me to investigate my past to better prepare for the future. To grasp from my ancestors all the elements that strengthen cultural values for the betterment of society and humanity.
From the 100 verbs, there were a few key words that captured my attention. 1). Exist – “To believe that things are. The universe is. And people are.” This was visually, represented by an unprocessed stone. This caught my attention as this was my initial inspiration to the jewelry pieces I designed for my workshops. I guess, this is an intuitive form that is embedded in all of us, yet we have ignored.
Powerful. 2). Hold – “to grasp things with finger and thumb. Hand engages a stone. Stone encounters hand.” Although, I didn’t like that this stone was an axe, I did appreciate that the stone provided a grip—in my opinion, a form of security or power. My project seems to have intuitively connected to a primitive desire or need to hold on to an object in one’s hand. We just have to learn to listen to our inner desires. This is where I found Branzi’s work amazing. The word chosen to describe the object gave me chills. The definition was powerful—although, it was a working tool, Branzi decided to use the word DESTROY. Granted the tool displayed was a “working tool” to work the land or to capture a prey (or destroy for one’s benefit). He strategically chose the word Destroy because it was created to destroy a living thing or breakdown a landscape. I had to take a moment to inhale this particular information.
(This image was under “Annihilate”, but it clearly represents a stronger definition for destruction.
3). Make – Interestingly enough, Branzi chose to place the word MAKE sixth from the list. I would have thought, this would have been third on the list, but he decided the affect of the hand destroying a living creature was more important than the creation of something. Fascinating. Make – “To manufacture something as we desire. By manipulating materials…”
Branzi then took me into a rollercoaster of a journey from varying sounds to visuals of progression and darkness of regression. The background music generated some apprehension at certain points, at others it gave me hope. I happened to notice the heartbeat sound as I reached the “religious” section or the next key word that caught my attention 4). Worship – “to offer prayers, conscious of the great power beyond human control.” Although, the music brought some uneasiness, the visuals and definition brought me comfort. There were other keywords that captivated my attention such as Cultivate, Share, Love, Learn, Navigate, Build, Observe and Think, but the main takeaway from this exhibition for me was to wake-up, acknowledge the past and become aware of technology rather than be consumed by it or its politics.
Listen and wake-up to your true nature. … just like the way life began!
