Harvested locks of human hair wind their way through Studio Swine’s strikingly sleek Hair Highway object series. Blending artistry with barbery, the collection draws inspiration both from the ancient aesthetics of China’s Silk Road, as well as the booming hair industry in Shandong province, resulting in tasteful vases, artisan boxes, and ironic combs sculpted from unruly strands of blond, brunette, and red hair.
As New Scientist pointed out earlier today, Hair Highway is part of the What Is Luxury? exhibition currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, alongside Unknown Field Division’s toxic Ming vases and other works.
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Mixed with studio founders’ Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves proprietary, natural bio-resin material, the composite works tame the messy medium into classical forms with an “exotic aesthetic.” As such, the designs provide an unexpected substitute for the rapidly disappearing resources which have been exploited for thier colors and textures for centuries: horn, tortoise shell, and tropical wood. “Studio Swine suggest a sustainable alternative by utilizing the amazing qualities of human hair,” they explain. “Asian hair in particular grows incredibly quickly—growing up to 16 times faster than hardwood mahogany. It’s also very strong—a full head of hair can take the weight of two African elephants.”
Check out objects from the Hair Highway collection below:
For more of Studio Swine’s inventive works, check out their website.
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