jie wu's marble-like boxes reflect the living in the anthropocene

seeking to unravel the dialogue between natural and man-made, the royal college of art graduate designer jie wu reflects on the modern life crafting small boxes from wood and resin. the materials clash and merge in different conditions to create a variety of marble-like patterns. the designer claims that — with all their delicacy — the boxes are the chimeras of today’s anthropogenic world.

‘humanity’s impact on the earth is now so profound that this new geological epoch has to be declared,’ says wu. ‘human activities are likely to leave identifiable fossil records on earth, among which plastic (resin) is the quintessential substance from manufacturing. its traces have already reached waters far away from inhabitable lands. my work hence probes into the now obscured contrast between the natural and the artificial, problematizes what humanity deems valuable, and foregrounds the human impact on the earth.’

aiming to invite the viewers to reflect on their own role as modern human beings, the pieces show the controversial mix of materials reminding us of the careless use of plastic in the world. jie wu’s boxes will be part of future heritage 2018 at decorex show from 16-19 september at syon park, london.