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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