MICHAEL ANTROBUS
+44 (0) 7766 013 505
info@michaelantrobus.com
GROUND STATIONERY
A collection of industrial tools for the home.
These objects are the outcome of a hands on material lead design process, characterized by experimentation and reduction. The result of weeks of working with flat steel bar using self made jigs and press tools.
The objects are formed from standard 18 inch sections of Ground Flat Stock. A high quality steel, precision machined in Sheffield. This oil hardening steel is normally used by toolmakers as it has a high wear resistance after heat treatment, making it ideal for industrial applications such as dies, press tools, punches, machine knives and marking devices.
Supplied in the annealed condition, the rectangular steel Lengths are manually formed in a fly press and twisted to create a handle. A blade is then sharpened onto one edge of the steel before the components are hardened, plated and riveted together.
HELLO STRANGER
Based on the premise that ‘sociability is an end unto itself ‘ this mobile installation is designed to create opportunities for spontaneous encounters, random acts of kindness and kinship between perfect strangers.
Unlike typical municipal infrastructure these objects are flexible, tactile, dynamic and playful. A catalyst for interaction, they provide an excuse to be sociable. Bringing individuals together by provoking activities underpinned by cooperation, teamwork and sharing.
Deliberately ambiguous in function, the objects can be interpreted in a variety of ways. The installation along London’s Southbank triggered varied responses from passers by who approached and interacted with both the objects and each other. Some would simply peer through the orange boundaries, others would re-position the frames to highlight new areas of the landscape. While a majority saw them as a cue to record the moment with a photograph, politely asking passing strangers to help take their picture.
DOWNLOAD PRINT FOLD
A family of open source, self assembly desk organizers that take advantage of an internet connection for delivery, scrap paper as raw material and a desktop printer as production facility. The set includes: Pencil holder, A5 envelope, Envelope holder, fix for a broken biro and an extension that allows you to extend the life of your over-sharpened pencils.
The objects exist as free to download PDF files. Once printed onto a sheet of scrap paper, they combine a net and assembly instructions within the same A4 sheet.
To simplify the making process, the instructions for assembly are arranged on the page, so that with each sequential fold, roll or crimp, the next instruction becomes apparent. When the objects reach the end of their useful life, the user can recycle the old paper, print off a new object and in the case of the pencil holder, reuse the old paper clip.
PROXIMITY
'Examining the relationship between two sitters'. The tubular profiles that make up the structure of this two person seat are connected by a continuos hinge and set on lockable casters. This allows each sitter to change their position and choose how close they want to get to their neighbor. The closer they sit, the more stable their seat becomes. As they move further away, the structure becomes increasingly unstable and eventually, impossible to sit on.