dialectic
August 2026
Maple, walnut and found objects
We form relationships with objects that shape the way we use and maintain them. Like a social contract, these relationships establish modes of interaction and methods of use based on context and culturally informed behavior.
A hammer requires little more than proper use and maintenance. It is typically an unadorned, purpose-built, and highly functional object. But objects are not always confined to such narrow roles and are often complicated by our desire to signal status, sophistication, or wealth.
These precious objects also rely on comparison with their standard, functional counterparts to maintain their relative significance. To single something out as precious, there must also be something ordinary against which it can be measured. This dichotomy between the functional and the precious, and their relative places in our cluttered lives, forms the core of Dialectic.