Day 047: Visitor / Shaping with sand
Today is again a day for celebration in Bobola since we have the honour to welcome our sixth visitor. Samuli Helavuo is a Finnish designer working both with furniture and smaller scale objects and art. Samuli is a sunny and talented person describing himself as an observer, who is interested in both small and big scale things and phenomenon around us. Samuli has promised to tell us more about his work and sources of inspiration. We are so happy to welcome Samuli to Bobola!
Samuli © Samuli Helavuo
PALASINA, MUTTA EI RIKKI VII photo © Samuli Helavuo
Samuli’s original text is in Finnish. This is a translation by Bobola :)
Moi! (Hi in Finnish!)
My name is Samuli Helavuo. I am a designer but also an artist. These creative roles are inspiring and supporting my way of working. I have studied design first in Lahti Institute of Design and after in Aalto University. By nature I am a peace-loving observer. In design I always love combining both functional and aesthetic values. I also do enjoy a lot handling new challenges. I am working both with small and big scale like furniture and tableware. Sometimes it might be surprising for some people but this is already my second profession. I was earlier working with marketing and sales, but I really feel home now with my second path of career. Life long learning is a privilege that I hope to enjoy through my whole life.
I get my inspiration from different kinds of shapes and daily life around. I also love observing surfaces and shapes created by people and nature. I am usually trying to observe different phenomenon from different perspectives, angles and scales, close and far! I hope to keep the spirit of curiosity, excitement and playfulness. Intuition, empathy and touch are my favourite tools to work with.
You can explore more of Samuli’s work from:
www.helavuo.com
@helavuo
@samulihelavuo
Samuli’s modular EDIT Shelf for Hakola Oy photo © Unto Rautio
We at Bobola asked three key questions from Samuli:
”I am inspired by shapes created by people and nature.”
“In the future I would like to be even better designer, spend some more time creating art and become a father.”
“Most important thing for me is love.”
Samuli loves designing things in all different scales. EDIT shelf and MAMA chair (Photos © Unto Rautio), FUNGI and SOLU tableware (Photos © Samuli Helavuo), RIIPPU shelf (Photo © Katri Kapanen)
Samuli drives his inspiration from all different scales. Nature is very close to his heart. © Samuli Helavuo
The activity of the day: Shaping forms with sand
Sand is a great natural tool and material to explore and experiment with shapes. Sand is somehow a familiar material for all of us. It brings in mind a lot of positive and warm memories. Already when I was a small boy I used to enjoy playing with sand on the beach. It was such a great and easy material to explore three-dimensional shapes on and on again. Finnish summer is very short, so I didn’t want to limit there but bring it inside. I built a small sand box inside that can be played on the table. It is like a three-dimensional sketchbook where one can experiment different shapes very fast an easily. Somehow it is also very meditating practices. Among the smallest kids it might get a bit wild, but sometimes it is great to just let it loose and play free. Have you ever seen those Japanese gardens, where sand plays a very important role? Imagine those, maybe it could be cool to built a small meditative sand box inside and change the pattern everyday as a meditation practice.
1. First we need sand. I went outside for a walk and picked up some sand from the nature. I used a sieve to get rid of dirt. Remember that it is always good the check if you are allowed to use the natural resources. I collected about 5kilos of sand that was plentiful!
2. Find a box that can be the frame for your sand box. I used an old cardboard box and a plastic bag for mine.
3. Choose some funky tools to shape the sand. There are many kinds of tools that work for the purpose. Metal tools for example are very good. Check the pictures for inspiration what I have chosen.
4. Spray the sand with some water; make it moist but not too wet!
5. Mix a bit that it is evenly moist.
6. I usually start shaping the sand by making a small hill on the centre of the box.
7. Test different tools and techniques. Let your imaginary flow!
8. Rectangular shapes are easiest to be shaped with metal spatula or a wide knife.
9. Document your three-dimensional sketches with photos.
10. You can start over and over again. If the sand gets a bit dry just spray it with a bit more water!
11. You can experiment all different kinds of shapes and forms.
12. You can also create familiar creatures like animals.
13. Test some ready-made shapes as well. A coffee cup or a glass is a good form to be repeated. You can create a bigger three-dimensional relief by repetition!
CAUTION: This might be so meditative that you will loose the sense of time!
Have fun and enjoy! It is a great activity to combine a little tour to nature and after do a creative activity back home!
Nature provides some great materials to explore new shapes too!
Projects by Samuli. FUNGI tableware (Photo © Aino Huhtaniemi), JUHLAT and PALASINA, MUTTA EI RIKKI V (Photos © Samuli Helavuo)
Let the wind lead you and keep your senses open, nature gives a lot of amazing sources for inspiration. © Samuli Helavuo
EDIT Shelf by Hakola Oy photo © Unto Rautio
Dear followers we want to remind you that parents assume all responsibility for the safety of their children in these activities.
♥ - Team Bobola -