kuo duo experiments with traditional woodworking techniques in 'word play' furniture series

‘WORD PLAY’: a three-set series of wooden furniture

Kuo Duo presents a three-set series of wood furniture experimentation entitled ‘WORD PLAY’. Part of their first solo exhibition, curated by Supply Seoul, an art and design platform run by Kwangho Lee, the series introduces three manufacturing results developed from traditional techniques: ‘endgrain’, ‘sandblasting’ and ‘shou-sugi-ban’. ‘WORD PLAY’ is the methodology that symbolizes our way of developing ideas by combining the words of diverse making techniques with various materials,’  the Seoul-based studio explains. ‘For instance, what if ‘MIX’ and ‘WOOD’ combines? How will it be when we ‘WEAVE’ the ‘METAL’? What can we get by ‘DYE’ the ‘STONE’? It sometimes sounds ridiculous and nonsense but it arouses fresh imagination to take a new approach.’

Over the past years the duo has been working together on a variety of research projects focusing on biomaterials such as mycelium (see previous coverage here), chemical materials like clay resin, and industrial materials such as metal, wood and recycled plastic. On the basis of industrial design, their work intends to reinterpret old manufacturing techniques or forgotten methods in a new way, or combine different materials with completely new techniques to create new values ​​and aesthetics.
mix wood collection is a series of wood furniture utilizing traditional woodworking technique called ‘endgrain’

all images courtesy of MH Photography

experimental furniture collection BY KUO DUO

Kuo Duo’s experimental furniture collection is based on a single material, wood, that is interpreted in different archetypes using different methods. The studio has used various types of wood such as solid wood, interior lumber, and firewood to explore different construction techniques and final aesthetic results. ‘MIX WOOD’ is a series of furniture that utilizes a traditional woodworking technique called ‘endgrain’, which cross-connects and mixes different species of wood. This technique is mainly perceived as an old method to make patterned cutting boards.

Furthermore, the exploration aimed to expand the possibilities of this technique by making it efficient in production and applying them into three-dimensional objects that were not considered before. Instead of using a table saw, the duo used a band saw overlapping two different types of wood and cutting them into free curves at once. In this way, the curves made along the movement of the hand create more interesting and vibrant patterns and reduce production lead time. Due to the fact that the two types of wood are cut by overlapping, a pair of boards can be made at the same time, meaning that symmetrical parts like chair legs or chairs with two designs can be made simultaneously. By applying this curvy pattern into larger products, it expresses an interesting woven-like appearance. 

peel wood collection is emphasizes the wood grain and its unique texture by peeling the surface with a nylon grinder

peel wood set uses scratched lumber beams

The concept for ‘PEEL WOOD’ emerged from the curiosity to utilize some painted square lumber beams (75x75mm, 3.93 x 3.93 inches) left in the workshop for an installation frame. Thus, the designers applied the method of peeling the surfaces of the beams with a nylon brush typically used for scratching off rust of metal. As wood is a relatively soft material compared to metal, this process grinds the soft parts of the wood, creating an embossing effect on the surface. It highlights the unique grain of the wood that was under the clean surface. With grooved surfaces the beams could absorb the colored pigments far better than clean surfaces, emphasizing the natural texture and feeling of wood. Using its standardized dimensions, the lumber was made into furniture such as chairs, bench, hanger, and shelf with bold structure through repeated configurations. 

The ‘FIRE WOOD’ set was inspired by the word ‘firewood’ itself, however in this case the designers actually used fire as an aesthetic tool to create the ‘burnt’ pieces of furniture. Firewood generally requires splitting, which allows faster seasoning by exposing more surface area. Therefore, this led to the idea to ‘fire’ the ‘firewood’ to utilize the split texture and apply fire as a painting tool on the rough surface. Initially, the firewood planks are glued side by side to maintain the rough surface on the outside and the inside of the planks were planed away and assembled into boxes.  Next, the outer surface is exposed to a controlled fire to be burnt. This firing technique is known as ‘tan-hwa’ in Korean and ‘shou-sugi-ban’ in Japanese, and it is a traditional method of preserving wood, as well as making scorched finishes with a striking charcoal black color. 

fire wood vessel, various visual effects were created by treating fire as a painting tool.

a revival of traditional wood-working techniques

Kuo Duo studio has experimented with various gradient effects using the ‘shou-sugi-ban’ technique to create a series of vessels, which was intended to give a fresh perspective using a familiar material combination: firewood and fire. The ‘WORD PLAY’ series proposes a fresh introduction to using traditional manufacturing techniques that will inspire the Seoul-based designer duo to continue exploring as they expressed, ‘we will continue to explore various materials and making methods to expand its concept. Through this, we will broaden our own way of thinking and enjoy the process of making things.’  The show will continue until October 22, 2022 at Supply Seoul.

mix wood chair, beech + red oak patterned board & blue + black color mdf board

mix wood chair, it expresses an illusionary effect of woven wood

mix wood chair, a new perspective of a conventional wood working method

peel wood chair, a nylon grinder peels off the soft part of the wood surface creating an embossing effect

peel wood chair, the grooved surface could absorb the dyeing pigments highlighting its natural texture.

peel wood bench, using standard size of square lumber, it was made into furniture such as chairs, bench, hanger and shelf

compilation of exhibition pieces

project info:

name: WORD PLAY, MIX WOOD, PEEL WOOD, FIRE WOOD
designer: Kuo Duo | @kuo_duo

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: zaha mango | designboom