4Ever flowers part of the group exhibition FOKUS: AGEING
“4ever Flowers” combines ceramics and oat straw—a material known for tactility and symbolic of ageing. Each autumn, Hanna Whitehead harvests straw from local fields and hangs it to dry, halting its life cycle and suspending it in time. After this period of transformation, the straw is dyed, receiving a second life through colour and intention. Its coarse texture—reminiscent of skin—bears the marks of time. As the dye fades, the flower’s face subtly shifts once more, making its quiet ageing visible and inevitable.
Everything withers over time. Maturing, weathering, and cracking are inevitable processes that affect humans, objects, surroundings, and ideas. In design, this relationship with ageing is multifaceted. Age draws lines on our faces and hands, while objects develop layers, depth, and patina, crack, show the passage of time and their natural decay. Ageing reminds us everything is ephemeral. This year’s edition of FOKUS delves into design’s relationship with ageing, highlighting its complexity and showcasing objects that accompany and remind us of our human condition.
Mass-produced design objects are often preferred because of their pristine, smooth, new-looking surfaces. This preference leads us to overlook the natural lifecycle of objects, which eventually change, show signs of wear or become dysfunctional. Damaged or worn pieces are discarded, put aside, and replaced, continuing a throwaway culture that has been prevalent for decades, contributing to waste and scarcity of materials.
Sione Raaijmakers has argued on the Design by Women platform that the design industry is ageist, looking for fresh faces and work while forgetting seasoned designers. Older women are often ignored, while a man’s age is seen as a sign of experience and wisdom. Could we work on finding more inclusive practices? As societies, particularly in Europe, experience ageing populations, embracing inclusivity across all age groups seems imperative.
There is profound beauty to be found in ageing. The wabi-sabi aesthetic, for instance, embraces transience and imperfections, appreciating the naturally ageing process of objects. Designers have the opportunity to create works that not only endure, but also mature gracefully. Practices such as remaking and repairing further contribute to the lifecycle of design.
Some designs intentionally incorporate decay, rust, or other signs of wear from the start, embracing organic forms and the passage of time. As complex beings, our designs can reflect our intricate inner and outer layers.
