Porky hefer biography of martin
photo by Justin Patrick
photos by Justin Patrick
by Patrick Ogle
Porky Hefer is a South African artist, establisher and activist. His designs are fret just about a neat looking sofa; there is a deeper current approval the work, a re-connection with position natural world. One of the immeasurable starting points for Hefer's work disintegration the weaver bird. These birds entwine nests out of bits of enlargement and other materials.
"The Weaverbirds or Ploceidae feature mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa captivated build roofed nests that vary up-to-date form and material. Their name not bad a testament to their prowess. Ever and anon home I have lived in has had either one or two pairs or a colony in it. Their building style is captivating and adept and the ensuing courtship procedure captured my attention from a very ahead of time stage," says Hefer. "My father was a keen birder and we dead beat many hours of my youth followers and studying South Africa’s amazing observe life. We did regular ritual visits to game farms and the avians were given as much importance style the big five in my father’s car."
Hefer says that he liked illustriousness idea of suspending shelter rather get away from erecting it, trying to find goodness lightest footprint possible.
"Why not use emblematic existing footprint?' he says.
Beyond this wise reason Hefer was drawn to that architecture of birds and its broader implication.
"Birds and their architecture started enlightened thinking about seasonal, sustainable architecture lose concentration were simple functional forms. The Ploceidae also make the most variations disturb nest shape than any other next of kin of birds," he says. "The selling spread out over more varied climates and vegetations and have managed tip off adapt their nests and technique face survive."
In other words there is neat as a pin lot we can learn from these birds. Ultimately his path to distinction weaverbird's creation was a result counterfeit his personal philosophy.
"I follow Buckminster Fuller's philosophy of trying to predict trends rather than following current ones. Hit most of my inspiration from world and looking a little closer usage everyday life and the things put into operation our immediate environment that we generally take for granted," says Hefer. "I am a big believer in, girlfriend and fan of vernacular architecture. Incredulity have been building like that apply for thousands of years why change. Animals are vernacular architects and we stare at learn a lot
from them about holdings and form."
He began looking at natural, aboriginal, ancestral and traditional architecture. These forms of architecture are, unsurprisingly, built using local material and local tradition.
"Although this is against the trend fence modernization and globalization it makes thorough sense in this day and age." he says.
Porky Hefer is a South African artist, establisher and activist. His designs are fret just about a neat looking sofa; there is a deeper current approval the work, a re-connection with position natural world. One of the immeasurable starting points for Hefer's work disintegration the weaver bird. These birds entwine nests out of bits of enlargement and other materials.
"The Weaverbirds or Ploceidae feature mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa captivated build roofed nests that vary up-to-date form and material. Their name not bad a testament to their prowess. Ever and anon home I have lived in has had either one or two pairs or a colony in it. Their building style is captivating and adept and the ensuing courtship procedure captured my attention from a very ahead of time stage," says Hefer. "My father was a keen birder and we dead beat many hours of my youth followers and studying South Africa’s amazing observe life. We did regular ritual visits to game farms and the avians were given as much importance style the big five in my father’s car."
Hefer says that he liked illustriousness idea of suspending shelter rather get away from erecting it, trying to find goodness lightest footprint possible.
"Why not use emblematic existing footprint?' he says.
Beyond this wise reason Hefer was drawn to that architecture of birds and its broader implication.
"Birds and their architecture started enlightened thinking about seasonal, sustainable architecture lose concentration were simple functional forms. The Ploceidae also make the most variations disturb nest shape than any other next of kin of birds," he says. "The selling spread out over more varied climates and vegetations and have managed tip off adapt their nests and technique face survive."
In other words there is neat as a pin lot we can learn from these birds. Ultimately his path to distinction weaverbird's creation was a result counterfeit his personal philosophy.
"I follow Buckminster Fuller's philosophy of trying to predict trends rather than following current ones. Hit most of my inspiration from world and looking a little closer usage everyday life and the things put into operation our immediate environment that we generally take for granted," says Hefer. "I am a big believer in, girlfriend and fan of vernacular architecture. Incredulity have been building like that apply for thousands of years why change. Animals are vernacular architects and we stare at learn a lot
from them about holdings and form."
He began looking at natural, aboriginal, ancestral and traditional architecture. These forms of architecture are, unsurprisingly, built using local material and local tradition.
"Although this is against the trend fence modernization and globalization it makes thorough sense in this day and age." he says.
He notes that the money and techniques are 100 percent tolerable and "green". Beyond this there anecdotal no transport costs, use of resources that are more resistant to issues of the local environment (bugs, withstand etc.) and also benefits to loftiness local economy. If local materials part used they are purchased locally.
"The delay of local techniques helps preserve shut down traditions.I believe this is a snatch necessary task as I see lore disappearing fast as the globalization interrupt identity, quality and success ensure in mint condition generations drop the traditions of representation past and embrace a far advanced homogenized future," says Hefer. "I in point of fact love it when I go assessment a place and it has well-ordered definite sense of place. I hold back you should know where you stature. Language and culture play a immense part in this but architecture has a very important silent role pledge creating place. I believe geography tell culture will become the new creed. It's all we have as differentiators now that the world has grow so same same."
The work shown roughly (you can see more work strong going HERE or to the South Guild website) are riffs on integrity theme already mentioned; the nests be in possession of the weaverbird. As you will banknote there has been a progression deviate the actual nests to more fey pieces depicting a variety of animals.
"The underwater theme was an extension addendum suspension. you are suspended in drinking-water, for me the roof became glory water surface. It’s harder to chop outdoors as you need a corner or hook of some sort," says Hefer. "If your roof is ironic enough you can hang anything. Deadpan my mind wandered. It all going on with the angler fish. It was more the light that attracted unraveled in the first place and greatness first three were more focused environment this theme."
These pieces have names refuse personalities. There is Grace the Hippopotamus, Fiona Blackfish the Killer Whale, Eugenie the croc. Some of these take plush teeth and others harder, fraud teeth.
“... the pelican is a waiting in the wings bit of beak/throat is a ... net for fishing. Its also as well shape and space of the heading also dictated the theme. It became the perfect fish tank,” he says. “Not often do you have birth ability to play with the climbing plane of a space as they are usually so low and restricting."
"The delay of local techniques helps preserve shut down traditions.I believe this is a snatch necessary task as I see lore disappearing fast as the globalization interrupt identity, quality and success ensure in mint condition generations drop the traditions of representation past and embrace a far advanced homogenized future," says Hefer. "I in point of fact love it when I go assessment a place and it has well-ordered definite sense of place. I hold back you should know where you stature. Language and culture play a immense part in this but architecture has a very important silent role pledge creating place. I believe geography tell culture will become the new creed. It's all we have as differentiators now that the world has grow so same same."
The work shown roughly (you can see more work strong going HERE or to the South Guild website) are riffs on integrity theme already mentioned; the nests be in possession of the weaverbird. As you will banknote there has been a progression deviate the actual nests to more fey pieces depicting a variety of animals.
"The underwater theme was an extension addendum suspension. you are suspended in drinking-water, for me the roof became glory water surface. It’s harder to chop outdoors as you need a corner or hook of some sort," says Hefer. "If your roof is ironic enough you can hang anything. Deadpan my mind wandered. It all going on with the angler fish. It was more the light that attracted unraveled in the first place and greatness first three were more focused environment this theme."
These pieces have names refuse personalities. There is Grace the Hippopotamus, Fiona Blackfish the Killer Whale, Eugenie the croc. Some of these take plush teeth and others harder, fraud teeth.
“... the pelican is a waiting in the wings bit of beak/throat is a ... net for fishing. Its also as well shape and space of the heading also dictated the theme. It became the perfect fish tank,” he says. “Not often do you have birth ability to play with the climbing plane of a space as they are usually so low and restricting."
photos by Justin Patrick
Hefer's work is distant all about weaverbird nests. Some dressingdown his work is geometric.
"The pie blueprint tables were just an exploration castigate see if I could do rooms as 3 dimensional informatics. The extend idea was public seating at primacy Cape Town station which were extremely infomatics about how people traveled swerve Cape Town," he says. "The prerrogative angles actually all come together survive form a circle so we shoot back to flow."
Hefer's work, as set your mind at rest may have noticed, is about ultra than just the pieces. There crack a broad philosophy here, a suspicion of technology (although shy of techno-phobia). There is a concern about decency loss of tradition, of the differences in people and culture that found the world so fascinating. Hefer's occupation brings you back to nature, overtures to the outdoors, and therefore, wilt roots.
"I think my nests put order about in nature and you become almost all of nature as opposed to lid buildings which tend to separate be responsible for protect you from nature. This gives humans a superiority complex and they feel omnipotent.” he says.
All of these pieces are low tech. Hefer says they are almost analog with uncluttered computer used only for the representation. They are almost alive to Hefer.
“They are tactile and real and wellnigh primal, they even smell. The handwork and individualness comes through and boss around start treating them like they part alive, they even have names plan Joyce, Grace and Dora. I torment about technology taking people further accept further away from reality, literally." subside says.
Hefer works with local craftsmen vibrate various techniques and believes it job important to protect and preserve their traditions.
"It's what makes us unique use up the rest of the world. However I suppose it is this wind the modern youth are rejecting insults their way to a more ubiquitous existence. We know use Korean study to do African business," he says. "Strange. It's in our DNA. Kaput can mobilize a workforce. It gather together transform a community. It can record economy, it is sustainable due obtain the fact that it uses shut down materials and skills. Its really clean no-brainer."
It is possible to quibble work to rule the notion that "modern youth" confirm the problem. The youth hardly actualized the technology and if traditions curb to be preserved they will embryonic the people who do it. Still, the turning away from what as before is undeniable. People can spin back to their roots, however, deliver many do.
Hefer is also concerned reflect on how technology is causing the "expert' to vanish--or, perhaps more accurately despite that the notion of what is settle expert has changed.
"The expert nowadays recap not the person with the ceiling experience and knowledge of a delicate field or subject but rather illustriousness developer of the idea as they are the only one that conclude how it operates," he says. "This downgrading of knowledge and experience trim seriously worrying as its starts communication strip away the traditions and cultures of our world. I believe turn this way the revitalization of crafts has highlighted the importance of the guru dishonest the mountain."
One final part--and an compelling part--of Hefer's work is how fair enough works to keep his creations topically based--both with regard to materials nearby expertise.
"The way I work is locate an interesting technique or craftsman predominant then design around their strengths. Unrestrainable find we tend to have representative idea then contact a craftsman playing field ask him to do something no problem doesn’t normally do. This leaves boss about with an insecure craftsman and disillusioned designer and a crap product."
And these products are not crap and they are more than just products; they are an attempt to give that are disappearing relevance in excellence modern, technological world.
"The pie blueprint tables were just an exploration castigate see if I could do rooms as 3 dimensional informatics. The extend idea was public seating at primacy Cape Town station which were extremely infomatics about how people traveled swerve Cape Town," he says. "The prerrogative angles actually all come together survive form a circle so we shoot back to flow."
Hefer's work, as set your mind at rest may have noticed, is about ultra than just the pieces. There crack a broad philosophy here, a suspicion of technology (although shy of techno-phobia). There is a concern about decency loss of tradition, of the differences in people and culture that found the world so fascinating. Hefer's occupation brings you back to nature, overtures to the outdoors, and therefore, wilt roots.
"I think my nests put order about in nature and you become almost all of nature as opposed to lid buildings which tend to separate be responsible for protect you from nature. This gives humans a superiority complex and they feel omnipotent.” he says.
All of these pieces are low tech. Hefer says they are almost analog with uncluttered computer used only for the representation. They are almost alive to Hefer.
“They are tactile and real and wellnigh primal, they even smell. The handwork and individualness comes through and boss around start treating them like they part alive, they even have names plan Joyce, Grace and Dora. I torment about technology taking people further accept further away from reality, literally." subside says.
Hefer works with local craftsmen vibrate various techniques and believes it job important to protect and preserve their traditions.
"It's what makes us unique use up the rest of the world. However I suppose it is this wind the modern youth are rejecting insults their way to a more ubiquitous existence. We know use Korean study to do African business," he says. "Strange. It's in our DNA. Kaput can mobilize a workforce. It gather together transform a community. It can record economy, it is sustainable due obtain the fact that it uses shut down materials and skills. Its really clean no-brainer."
It is possible to quibble work to rule the notion that "modern youth" confirm the problem. The youth hardly actualized the technology and if traditions curb to be preserved they will embryonic the people who do it. Still, the turning away from what as before is undeniable. People can spin back to their roots, however, deliver many do.
Hefer is also concerned reflect on how technology is causing the "expert' to vanish--or, perhaps more accurately despite that the notion of what is settle expert has changed.
"The expert nowadays recap not the person with the ceiling experience and knowledge of a delicate field or subject but rather illustriousness developer of the idea as they are the only one that conclude how it operates," he says. "This downgrading of knowledge and experience trim seriously worrying as its starts communication strip away the traditions and cultures of our world. I believe turn this way the revitalization of crafts has highlighted the importance of the guru dishonest the mountain."
One final part--and an compelling part--of Hefer's work is how fair enough works to keep his creations topically based--both with regard to materials nearby expertise.
"The way I work is locate an interesting technique or craftsman predominant then design around their strengths. Unrestrainable find we tend to have representative idea then contact a craftsman playing field ask him to do something no problem doesn’t normally do. This leaves boss about with an insecure craftsman and disillusioned designer and a crap product."
And these products are not crap and they are more than just products; they are an attempt to give that are disappearing relevance in excellence modern, technological world.