RUST HARVEST

Yuma Kano (1988) graduated from the department of design at Tokyo Zokei University. After working as an assistant to artist Yasuhiro Suzuki, he founded Studio Yumakano: based out of Tokyo in what was once a shipyard. The studio (previously on WeVux) aims to inspire a fun, creative world where everyone is able to find new possibilities by exploring unnoticed aspects of the everyday. He already received major awards such as Good Design Award, IFFT Young Designer Award and German Design Award, among others.

 

 

“Rust Harvest” is an experimental materials project focused on rust. The prevention of rust is an age-old problem in manufacturing, we perceive it as an obstacle, an issue to keep in mind, but a closer look at rust reveals a variety of surprisingly beautiful patterns and complex mixtures of colors. With this in mind, Studio Yumakano tried to produce the attractive expressions of rust in quantity and use it as new texture for products. Through trial and error, they were able to develop a technique to transfer only the rust from metal plates using acrylic resin.

“We expose these plates to light, rain, earth, and seawater to create rust, collect the rust, and then subject the plates to more weathering, which creates another crop to harvest in a process similar to an agricultural cycle. While we still use natural rust, we have taken into account manufacturing, distribution, and costs to create a complete system of production that has moved beyond the scope of design alone. Unlike metal, the light penetrates rust trapped inside the acrylic resin, which creates a frozen moment from a process that has taken years. Because the resulting material can be used like ordinary acrylic resin, it holds limitless possibilities for various products, interior design, and construction.” Studio Yumakano

 

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