While living in India, I was intrigued by the huge variety of matchbox designs. I began collecting matchboxes soon after arriving in India, and by the time I left, I had over 400 unique designs.
Slowly over the last three years, I have been making frames for each of the matchboxes in my collection from the scrap wood in shop where I work.
The framed matchboxes fit conveniently in old cassette tape racks. Above is the nearly completed collection of 400 framed boxes.
After taking a class in the D-Lab at MIT I began working on two projects through the lab. Above is an image of part of a prototype for a human waste incinerator.
We have developed a combustion chamber for the incinerator that creates a downward flowing air draft, resulting in flames burning from the bottom of the fuel rather than the top. This allows for continuous and complete combustion of fuel.
A thermal imaging camera measuring the heat in different parts of the combustion chamber.
While walking in the city, I have become fascinated by instances of trees growing through and engulfing parts of the built environment. I started collecting samples of this phenomenon and have begun exploring the possibility of this semi-natural composite material.
Another example of this uncommon collaboration between humans and the trees.
The beginning of the slow process of flattening a large slab with embedded steel.
Note: I did not personally cut any of the trees involved in this project. Each piece has been found or given to me by a friend.
