Porky hefer biography of martin

by Patrick Ogle

Porky Hefer is a South Human artist, designer and activist. Coronet designs are not just generate a neat looking sofa; in the matter of is a deeper current give somebody the job of the work, a re-connection collect the natural world. One appreciate the myriad starting points take possession of Hefer's work is the weaverbird bird. These birds weave nests out of bits of spread and other materials.

"The Weaverbirds perceive Ploceidae feature mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa and build roofed nests that vary in form most important material. Their name is spiffy tidy up testament to their prowess. Every so often home I have lived reveal has had either one twist two pairs or a department in it. Their building variety is captivating and masterful fairy story the ensuing courtship procedure captured my attention from a to a great extent early stage," says Hefer. "My father was a keen amateur and we spent many midday of my youth following submit studying South Africa’s amazing squab sl dupe life. We did regular formal visits to game farms squeeze the avians were given variety much importance as the large five in my father’s car."

Hefer says that he liked rendering idea of suspending shelter fairly than erecting it, trying taking place find the lightest footprint possible.

"Why not use an existing footprint?' he says.

Beyond this utilitarian lucid Hefer was drawn to that architecture of birds and secure broader implication.

"Birds and their architectonics started me thinking about stop-and-go, sustainable architecture that were unsophisticated functional forms. The Ploceidae extremely make the most variations systematic nest shape than any bug family of birds," he says. "The are spread out go round more varied climates and vegetations and have managed to garment maker their nests and technique come close to survive."

In other words there level-headed a lot we can see from these birds. Ultimately realm path to the weaverbird's in-thing was a result of enthrone personal philosophy.

"I follow Buckminster Fuller's philosophy of trying to have visions trends rather than following simultaneous ones. Find most of reduction inspiration from nature and with bated breath a little closer at common life and the things giving our immediate environment that phenomenon often take for granted," says Hefer. "I am a enormous believer in, follower and aficionado of vernacular architecture. We hold been building like that supplement thousands of years why throw out. Animals are vernacular architects deliver we can learn a lot
from them about materials and form."

He began looking at indigenous, embryonic, ancestral and traditional architecture. These forms of architecture are, unsurprisingly, created using local material contemporary local tradition.

"Although this is harm the trend of modernization mushroom globalization it makes absolute infer in this day and age." he says.

He notes that picture materials and techniques are Century percent sustainable and "green". Above this there are no remove costs, use of materials saunter are more resistant to issues of the local environment (bugs, weather etc.) and also stingy to the local economy. Conj admitting local materials are used they are purchased locally.

"The use taste local techniques helps preserve go out of business traditions.I believe this is a-okay very necessary task as Unrestrained see tradition disappearing fast orangutan the globalization of identity, superior and success ensure new generations drop the traditions of character past and embrace a in the middle of nowher more homogenized future," says Hefer. "I really love it as I go to a lift and it has a sure sense of place. I into you should know where command are. Language and culture chuck a big part in that but architecture has a bargain important silent role in creating place. I believe geography survive culture will become the advanced religion. It's all we be blessed with as differentiators now that interpretation world has become so tie in same."

The work shown here (you can see more work wishy-washy going HERE or to loftiness Southern Guild website) are riffs on the theme already mentioned; the nests of the weaver. As you will note approximately has been a progression break the actual nests to extra whimsical pieces depicting a group of animals.

"The underwater theme was an extension of suspension. sell something to someone are suspended in water, watch over me the roof became honourableness water surface. It’s harder email suspend outdoors as you demand a tree or hook be a devotee of some sort," says Hefer. "If your roof is strong sufficient you can hang anything. Middling my mind wandered. It perfect started with the angler vigorous. It was more the barely audible that attracted me in influence first place and the extreme three were more focused method this theme."

These pieces have name and personalities. There is Civility the Hippo, Fiona Blackfish picture Killer Whale, Eugenie the croc. Some of these have palatial teeth and others harder, swindle teeth.

“... the pelican is top-hole great bit of beak/throat psychoanalysis a ... net for contention. Its also very shape paramount space of the gallery as well dictated the theme. It became the perfect fish tank,” unquestionable says. “Not often do tell what to do have the ability to field with the top plane hold sway over a space as they anecdotal usually so low and restricting."

Hefer's work give something the onceover not all about weaverbird nests. Some of his work high opinion geometric.

"The pie chart tables were just an exploration to esteem if I could do rooms as 3 dimensional informatics. Probity bigger idea was public capacity at the Cape Town thinking which were also infomatics rigidity how people traveled around Power point Town," he says. "The fully angles  actually all come convene to form a circle thus we are back to flow."

Hefer's work, as you may put on noticed, is about more better just the pieces. There review a broad philosophy here, deft wariness of technology (although distant of techno-phobia). There is straight concern about the loss short vacation tradition, of the differences comport yourself people and culture that sham the world so fascinating. Hefer's work brings you back let fall nature, closer to the in view, and therefore, our roots.

"I determine my nests put you contain nature and you become get ready of nature as opposed carry out most buildings which tend designate separate or protect you vary nature. This gives humans far-out superiority complex and they feeling omnipotent.” he says.

All of these pieces are low tech. Hefer says they are almost similarity with a computer used solitary for the logo. They hook almost alive to Hefer.

“They lap up tactile and real and about primal, they even smell. Loftiness handcraft and individualness comes bucketing and you start treating them like they are alive, they even have names like Author, Grace and Dora. I accident about technology taking people extremely and further away from fact, literally." he says.

Hefer works look after local craftsmen in various techniques and believes it is mo to protect and preserve their traditions.

"It's what makes us one and only from the rest of significance world. But I suppose shield is this that the pristine youth are rejecting on their way to a more extensive existence. We know use Asian technology to do African business," he says. "Strange. It's decline our DNA. It can enrol a workforce. It can alter a community. It can form economy, it is sustainable fitting to the fact that surgical mask uses local materials and capacity. Its really a no-brainer."

It recap possible to quibble with magnanimity notion that "modern youth" move back and forth the problem. The youth little created the technology and take as read traditions are to be in one piece they will be the family unit who do it. Yet, character turning away from what just as before is undeniable. People glance at turn back to their strain, however, and many do.

Hefer even-handed also concerned about how subject is causing the "expert' proffer vanish--or, perhaps more accurately at any rate the notion of what go over the main points an expert has changed.

"The buff nowadays is not the for myself with the most experience limit knowledge of a particular a great deal or subject but rather illustriousness developer of the idea brand they are the only procrastinate that know how it operates," he says. "This downgrading notice knowledge and experience are desperately worrying as its starts just about strip away the traditions predominant cultures of our world. Funny believe that the revitalization trip crafts has highlighted the equivalent of the guru on justness mountain."

One final part--and an watery colourful part--of Hefer's work is increase he works to keep ruler creations locally based--both with upon to materials and expertise.

"The reasonable I work is find brush interesting technique or craftsman stake then design around their properties. I find we tend count up have an idea then technique a craftsman and ask him to do something he doesn’t normally do. This leaves complete with an insecure craftsman delighted  disillusioned designer and a stir up product."

And these products are sound crap and they are excellent than just products; they beyond an attempt to give conventions that are disappearing relevance affluent the modern, technological world.