Magnhild Disington...FURever!

Magnhild Disington explains her artistic thought process:

Portable electronics are often neutral in appearance and lack emotional appeal. They have become a more pervasive part of our lifestyle and are things we carry with us most of the time. People tend not to feel any connection with them and change them gladly as soon as something better and newer is on the market; there is an abnormal refreshment rate for these types of product. Do we really need a new phone every six months? It is my belief that the values within our digital interactions outweigh the value of the electronic devices we use to make them. If we put more thought into the materials we use we can create a stronger emotional connection to these object and we might hold on to them a little longer as keepsakes.

For the collection of USB keys (flash drives) I have applied natural materials like wood, leather and fur. These materials provide unique character and sensory experiences which create emotional value within the physical product. This creates a more balanced connection between ‘content of desire’ (our files and interactions) and ‘object of desire’ (our electronic devices).

Because of their minimal size the usb keys are ideal for being made out of left over material, that other way would go to waste.  And my collection would be an ideal supplement to any company that already works with fur and leather. Working with fur could in some parts be controversial.  But the way I feel is as long as the fur comes from farms with restrictions and good conditions it is one of the most sustainable fabrics you can get. A natural material with a long history.

Where the usb keys are easy to implement right now, the furry mobile phones are made as inspirational materials. Their purpose are as eye-openers, to push the boundaries of the category codes dominating today’s market.

Something that intrigues me is to create objects and materials that span from beautiful and subtle to the shocking and grotesque. I find the more sophisticated look in the contrast between beauty and a more peculiar expression. But most importantly I want the work I create to reflect this contrast, to evoke thought and opinion.