Art & Objects: How Intrigue Can Lead to Unexpected Connection

By Ed Cruikshank

Imagine a world where the things that surround us are both beautifully made to last a lifetime and infused with messages and texts that embody our most precious and meaningful values, experiences, memories and wishes.

Ed Cruikshank began his creative journey in the UK in fine craftsmanship before moving into the world of design. He worked in London for ten years with the Linley Company creating some of the world's most extraordinary custom furniture, including pieces for an Auckland-built yacht that first brought him to New Zealand where he later settled in Queenstown in 2002.

His work has always focused on creating space for conversations that matter. From precious single objects to giant boardroom tables and entire interiors, his work has always been steeped in a desire to foster human connection.

Since 2010 he has explored themes of communication through the use of texts depicted in a form of Braille embedded into the furniture and objects he creates. The idea is to create intrigue through the use of a recognizable but generally unreadable form of written language.

This intrigue leads to a gradual unveiling of the encoded meaning behind the work and enables a gentle un furling of the meaning itself.

In an age of soundbites that demand immediate positive or negative responses Ed’s intention is to encourage constructive debate and deeper understanding around the subject ultimately bringing people closer together to foster tolerance.      

While furniture remains his first love and is increasingly becoming artwork in its own right, his recent art series Weapons of Mass Connection moved away from utility and brought his own writing to the fore in wall-hanging pieces that rely on the same exacting design ethos, high craftsmanship and beautiful materials that have been constant in his furniture work for over twenty years.

The title of the collection reflects the fact that the artworks are made from the traditional materials of firearms, brought together for the polar opposite reason - to create beautiful objects made to connect and unify people with the ultimate goal of creating more harmony in the world.       

Ed shared insight into his background through a number of the pieces and projects he has worked on and invites conversation around the differing perceptions of art and objects and how intrigue can lead to unexpected connection.

We were taken back in time to his first encounters with art and craft and the importance of the way that making things connected him with his father. His stories of a decade with Linley in London were entertaining, his first day at work meeting David Bowie over coffee and later brushing shoulders with Princess Diana and design jobs for the likes of Elton John, Robbie Williams, John Cleese and Jon Bon Jovi.

Ed’s subsequent move to Queenstown and the twenty year development of his extraordinary custom furniture and now art practice really captivated us. His vision of bringing more peace to the world by simply connecting people is both audacious and somehow obvious at the same time. We certainly enjoyed the experience feeling connected in the moment with Ed and his story and look forward to seeing Ed more often as a new member of Mountain Club.     

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