Volcanic eruption: a vast force of nature emitting from the depths of the earth; lava splashing, crystallizes in thin air, or slowly cools through a sinister flux.
The project "Obsessidian", as the name indicates, was born from my own private long-time obsession about stones and rocks, volcanic ones in particular. I remember finding my first Obsidian (volcanic glass) while trekking in Spain. I was enchanted by the magical glassy appearance of it, its loins, and its dim dull... I could not help but get a sense of why different cultures and societies treated these stones as if they are mystical and occult, and referred to it as a precious rock, which is used for occult medicine, jewelry, statues and idols.
In the time period I was living in Iceland, this obsession grew stronger; Iceland is a young island and is evident in many geological phenomena, and the presence of various volcanic stones that differ in color, shape, weight, and more. Once I was exposed to the world of volcanic rocks, a need for deeper research grew stronger: Why is this rock porous and light, while another one is heavy and has crystals? How is it possible that from the same lava the shiny black Obsidian is formed, but also the white Pumice rock which can float on water?
These questions and the growing interest in volcanic processes gave birth to this material research, the project called "Obsessidian": Rethinking LAVA as a raw material, and in doing so- suggesting volcanic eruption byproducts, like volcanic ash and rocks, to be used as a neo-ancient material; one that is natural and widespread but hasn’t been put to use.
This project suggests original and innovative design thinking, by intervening in volcanic phenomena and the place that has been natural thus far – the transformation from Lava, to rock, to volcanic glass.
It shifts between natural and unnatural; local and global; modernism, but with a nod to the past; precise techniques, lists and measurements, to the uncontrolled and random.
In long-term vast research, I have tested four local volcanic rocks: Basalt, red Scoria, black Scoria and Pumice. A research process that started in Iceland, and continued in Israel as local material research, led me to process the different rocks with combined techniques between glass and metal; dealing with this neo-old raw material required mapping and inventing new processing methods, tailored into it, and discovering flexibility in the familiar working methods.
The final products demonstrate four different methods of processing the stone, and are divided into three families (Saki, Fuego and Askja, each named after a volcano i have visited during the research), according to the various manifestations that are evident in them.
They perpetuate various aggregate states, and bring in a variety of visual shows and discoveries, new aesthetics and old-modern ideas, ancient material in a new perspective.
Explanation about the different families:
Askja Family (Named after "Askja" volcano in Iceland)-pic no.2
"Askja" family is characterized by the visualization and integration of the raw material with the processed one. It emphasizes the natural qualities of the rock, while combining it with an artificial intervention, and by doing so creating a new physical state of the rock.
Saki Family (Named after "Tel Saki" volcano in Israel) pic no.3
"Saki" family represents a combination of ceramics and volcanic rock. It offers a new use of purely Scoria rock as a glaze. The Scoria is melted into lava, and then solidifies as a glaze, in almost unpredictable visual appearances, giving each artifact its uniqueness.
Fuego Family (Named after "Fuego" volcano in Guatemala) pic no.1
"Fuego" family is cast fully from lava. It was created using a combination of methods: metal casting, induction melting and glass handling. This has yielded objects with an old-archeological sense, alongside objects with the shining desirable appearance of the natural Obsidian.
**note: as a material research, this project includes a variety of items (additional pictures are available)
Items size ranges between 2*4*4 cm to approximately 15*15*15 cm
