Food for thought

Work by Annette Koehnen

Food for thought

A maker of things, an artist, an artisan, they all think about everything they do.

Why make a particular thing, and in a particular way, from a particular material, to have a particular appeal? The common denominator here is thought. At each stage, from conception to presentation, thought has gone into everything. Each hammer blow, measurement taken, careful selection and composition. And nothing is left to chance, every surface and edge considered.

Thought

When we see a carefully crafted object that we desire, we often stop thinking about anything but our wish to own it. However, if we continue to look, we might see the time and care that has gone into making it. And if we look longer still, we will begin to perceive the thought that has been invested by the maker. Thought is what allows original things to be made. 

Thoughts

The only things that actually belong to you are your thoughts. The same is true for a maker. Your thoughts are unique to you. Just like an artist’s are unique to them. Your thoughts didn’t exist before you did. If you have good ones, they may outlast you, they are of your own creation. But when you leave, you no longer have any hold on them and if you have shared them with other people, they will do with them what they like or let them fade away.

When you buy a thing of beauty created by another person, are you buying their time and materials? Or have you actually purchased something else? Far more personal and precious? Now you possess an object that is actually a collection of thoughts frozen in time. Thoughts from someone else’s mind that appeal to you. They have shared their thoughts with you and in exchange you give them money with which they may well buy food. Is that a fair exchange? Thoughts to feed your mind. Food for thought?

Cabinets of Curiosity

We are curious makers of things, things we dream up ourselves. Remarkable, useful, beautiful and original things. Sometimes they are made entirely by hand, sometimes partly by machine, in the future perhaps by robots. May be not robots. Always with an eye for detail and with an element of fun.

If you care to follow this blog and join our journey, we’ll share our successes and (occasional) failures with you and hopefully you’ll become a frequent visitor. Suppose that depends on us keeping you entertained. So let’s get on with the words and pictures.

Work in progress

Copyright

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