Allium Cepa
1st prize in the competition on the topic “Tischlein deck' dich 2.0” sponsored by the Danner Foundation Munich
The onion, a true all-rounder in the kitchen and natural medicine. I knew I wanted to give her my attention to create a space that emphasized her beauty and importance.
Concept
My idea was to create a space for the onion that includes all the components it needs to grow, but the onion should still be the focus.
The plates should reflect the layers of the onion on the one hand and the breeding ground, the earth, on the other. A classy yet strong presentation should emphasize the importance of the vegetable and give it a space to be. Completely unchanged, completely natural, without any influence. Thin layered ceramic plates that have a recess in the middle from which the onion grows.
Implementation
The “straightness” of the individual panels also played a role. On the one hand, I consciously tried to create organic, wavy and, on the other hand, straight, uniform panels. Since I wanted to focus on the onion, I decided on the latter and developed a sequence of steps to counteract any distortion.
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After I had clarified the technical questions, I went back to designing. Height, width, number of panels and height of the spacers played an important role here. I decided on a trio of different sizes, heights and spacing.
Presentation
The presentation with a base is intended to create a stage for the object on which the onion can be ideally presented. For later use, an ideal height can be created so that the viewer can perceive various viewing levels. Here I chose a wooden base to maintain harmony between the bulb, object and base and to emphasize the naturalness.
The viewer plays a crucial role with this object. From different angles, a different image of the onion and its surroundings is revealed. This diversity of perspectives invites you to look at the onion from new perspectives and to continually discover new aspects. This approach reflects the subjective nature of perception - "You see what you want to see."
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The metaphor of onion growth thus becomes an invitation not only to look at the outer layer, but also to go deeper and explore the different layers of meaning. This concept shows how much more there is in seemingly simple things when you look at them from different perspectives and give them space to unfold. It shows that beauty and fascination lie hidden in the depths, waiting to be discovered - just like in the growth of an onion.