SAIC
Led by Pete Oyler and Jonah Takagi, the 2020 Whatnot Studio at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago addressed the concept of utopia, inspired by Thomas More’s 1516 book of the same name. Students in the course explored a range of topics — from the development of post-war American suburbs to the idea that utopia is fast food, a tidy workspace, a handmade tool, and access to clean water. Materials in the collection range from wood, metal, and clay to silicone, acrylic, vinyl, and resin. Titled Eighteen Perspectives on Utopia , this diverse collection of work explores the blurred lines between utopia, dystopia, and reality. When the Chicago lockdown was instituted in mid-March, the class decided to photograph the work and space just as they had left it — an unfinished array of ambition, intention, and imagination.
whatnotstudio.design / @whatnotstudio.saic
Photos by Jonathan Allen
Product Name
Kon-Kon Hammer by Kazuki Guzmán
Materials
Ash, brass, steel
Product Name
Gan-Gan Hammer by Kazuki Guzmán
Materials
Ash, brass, steel
Product Name
EULA Screen by Sam Link & Tim Karoleff
Materials
Acrylic
Product Name
Hard Water by Shengxun Lin
Materials
Purified water and vinyl
Product Name
Perennial by Rachel Bergamini
Materials
Flowers, resin
Product Name
4 Tray Unit by Lola Dement Myers
Materials
Porcelain
Product Name
Kerfed Rack by Grace Jeon
Materials
Concrete, white oak
Product Name
Repeat Seat by Jessica Stone
Materials
Birch, grout, and stoneware clay
Product Name
Ephemeral Concrete by Paula Moreno
Materials
Cement, copper, salt
Product Name
Fantastic Pursuit by Yinxi Jiang
Materials
Spray paint, resin
Product Name
Inverse Fountain by Nadia Kibilsky
Materials
Spray paint, steel, tubing, water pump
Product Name
Array Tray by Hanz Hwang
Materials
Polystyrene, white oak
Product Name
Ultimate Happiness by Rio Chen
Materials
Paper, polypropylene, silicone
Product Name
Mirrerror by Nicolas John McDonough
Materials
Acrylic, aluminum, film
Product Name
Post-Column by Sheldon Bess
Materials
Corian, MDF, steel
SAIC
Led by Pete Oyler and Jonah Takagi, the 2020 Whatnot Studio at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago addressed the concept of utopia, inspired by Thomas More’s 1516 book of the same name. Students in the course explored a range of topics — from the development of post-war American suburbs to the idea that utopia is fast food, a tidy workspace, a handmade tool, and access to clean water. Materials in the collection range from wood, metal, and clay to silicone, acrylic, vinyl, and resin. Titled Eighteen Perspectives on Utopia , this diverse collection of work explores the blurred lines between utopia, dystopia, and reality. When the Chicago lockdown was instituted in mid-March, the class decided to photograph the work and space just as they had left it — an unfinished array of ambition, intention, and imagination.
whatnotstudio.design / @whatnotstudio.saic
Photos by Jonathan Allen
Product Name
Kon-Kon Hammer by Kazuki Guzmán
Materials
Ash, brass, steel
Product Name
Gan-Gan Hammer by Kazuki Guzmán
Materials
Ash, brass, steel
Product Name
EULA Screen by Sam Link & Tim Karoleff
Materials
Acrylic
Product Name
Hard Water by Shengxun Lin
Materials
Purified water and vinyl
Product Name
Perennial by Rachel Bergamini
Materials
Flowers, resin
Product Name
4 Tray Unit by Lola Dement Myers
Materials
Porcelain
Product Name
Kerfed Rack by Grace Jeon
Materials
Concrete, white oak
Product Name
Repeat Seat by Jessica Stone
Materials
Birch, grout, and stoneware clay
Product Name
Ephemeral Concrete by Paula Moreno
Materials
Cement, copper, salt
Product Name
Fantastic Pursuit by Yinxi Jiang
Materials
Spray paint, resin
Product Name
Inverse Fountain by Nadia Kibilsky
Materials
Spray paint, steel, tubing, water pump
Product Name
Array Tray by Hanz Hwang
Materials
Polystyrene, white oak
Product Name
Ultimate Happiness by Rio Chen
Materials
Paper, polypropylene, silicone
Product Name
Mirrerror by Nicolas John McDonough
Materials
Acrylic, aluminum, film
Product Name
Post-Column by Sheldon Bess
Materials
Corian, MDF, steel