Used | Unused | 2024

BEYOND THE CURTAIN​ / Creating Transient Environments The project ‘Used | Unused’ focuses on the unintended changes of materials resulting from repetitive human interactions. Through spatial observations at the Akademie der Künste (AdK) and the Axel Springer Campus, I documented material and colour-based compositions using photography. These visual records serve as a key source for my work. Analysing my spatial recordings I discovered a recurring theme: the imprints left behind by human interaction. Scratches, scuffs, colour changes and broken edges tell stories of use, wear, and adaptation. These unintentional changes ultimately became the main topic of my project. I questioned societal perceptions: What visual cues denote age or novelty? How do we treat old versus new materials? To illustrate this tension, I curated contrasting materials into a sculptural work. 10 pieces of 40-year-old plastic document folders were used alongside a spotless polyurethane foil, highlighting the passage of time. The exact arrangement of the materials required a hands-on process, which was unplanned and intuitive. I experimented with foldings and layerings using heat to bind the sheets together, which resulted in different colour shades and shapes. Through this tactile process, I aimed to convey the reduced aesthetic — the essence — of these materials. 'Used | Unused' invites viewers to explore the quiet transformations that shape our materialistic world. It challenges preconceptions, urging us to appreciate the unintended beauty born from human interaction. supported by: Prof. Christiane Sauer Iva Rešetar Dr. Mareike Stoll Nayeli Vega Vargas Jessica Zmijan ​work photographed by: ​Ákos Rajnai / https://www.akosrajnai.com/ 10 pieces of plastic document folders 1 piece of polyurethane foil 60 x 180 cm