Caged Message vases by Cypriot designer Alexis Themistocleous contain a secret message that can only be revealed when they are smashed.
The message is laser-cut from stainless steel, meaning that the words can alternatively be read through an X-Ray machine.
The vases themselves are cast from bubble-wrap.
Themistocleous has also cast vases from hollowed-out peppers and pumpkins (see below).
The following information is from Alexis studio:
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CAGED MESSAGE VASES – X-RAY VASES:
Inside each of these objects, lies a secret message. But there’s a catch… to read it, you have to break it. In this particular project I aim to use destruction as a form of creation. To make them, plaster is moulded around a structure encased with bubble wrap, leaving a highly tactile surface. Inside each vase sits a laser cut stainless steel – a technique which also allows the text to be read through an X-Ray machine rather than breaking it.
PUMPKIN BOWL – PEPPER VASES:
On the specific project I was using “natural” moulds. What I mean by saying natural moulds is using particular shapes produced by Nature to cast vases. In this particular case, the role of Nature is displayed by using peppers and pumpkins to cast objects.
By filling a pepper or a pumpkin with clay, I was casting the negative space of the vegetable and as a result I created a product that is unique and to take it out of the “mould” (the vegetable) I had to break it. It is unachievable to find two of the same peppers so every time the object casted is unique.
One can never create an identical copy with his hands but instead something similar with the previous one. In this case the uniqueness of the shape is kept every time. What makes these objects unique are not just the variations of the shape but also the imperfections on the surface of the final piece.
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Posted by Rose Etherington
November 11th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
at least,creative
November 11th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
i wanna see more how it made
November 11th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
i have to say as coming from the ceramic design field, these are really badly made.. even the rawness of it looks to crafty.. and using bubble plastix and fruits and the secret message are for me few ingredients i have see many times in the design classes or potter artists.
I wish him good luck working on new work but this is below quality for me.
November 11th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
From now on I have to say that everything in design has been done. I love the x-ray vases. Great work!
November 11th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I have never imagined that a pumpkin will look like this from inside. It is quite nice seeing the negative space of things. Interesting work
November 11th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I have an xray machine in my kitchen, might buy one
November 11th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Where can i buy them?
November 11th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Is that art or design? I think here comes the usual dezeen debate about what is art and whats design.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
hey thats great!
ill save my money and break a vase from a thrift store. nice try.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Pepper and pumpkin objects are awesome!!! I think these are mostly art – one off pieces and quite difficult for mass production. Maybe thats the point though. I agree with tommi it would be great to see how the pumpkin and pepper objects are made of.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I think crafts – hand made objects – art – design is the new movement in design today. Nice work.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
geo its craft.. not design neither art.. its obvious many people here dont know whats going on in ceramics world
November 12th, 2008 at 1:58 am
whatever it is man i find it cool
It would be great to have love messages for couples to share
November 12th, 2008 at 3:23 am
I second that OKP, but i think this is their first attempt to present the idea. it could certainly be perfected, but i think we should give credit when credit is due. I find this quite interesting.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Does anyone know the fairytales for robots by stanislav lem? there is a planet where furnitures grow like plants and breed like animals. Ther are incredibly aggressive wardrobes as top predators. We could start growing special shaped pumpkins by genetic engeneering to serve as special purpose casts. This could be a step into Stanislavs direction…
November 12th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Great Work Alexis!
Keep it up.
C
November 12th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Way to go Alexis, these are awesome!!! Hope all well over in Cyprus, you getting over to London anytime soon to sell these bad boys?