Artist Bio:
Based in Winchester, Massachusetts, Aram Festekjian has been honing his skills in sculpture and digital art since the start of the pandemic. Upon returning to Union College in person, Aram has been determined to utilize the tools and expertise his school provided to its fullest. He entered the new academic year with a clear vision of industrial design as his passion and future career. Aram has expanded his knowledge of sculpture by utilizing 3D modeling within the process of many of his sculptural works. His works combine imagination, craft, and technology into ideas to create impactful designs that shape experiences and change the perspectives of viewers. After graduation, Aram will continue his work at Rhode Island School of Design’s graduate program.
Artist Statement:
Industrial design captures the unique intersection between art, aesthetics, and functionality. Aram, being a kinesthetic learner since childhood, has translated this over time into his passion for sculpture and eventually industrial design as he delved into this artistic niche during the end of his sophomore year. The following chair design concepts are a culmination of his evolution as an artist focusing on industrial design. This project displays his experimentation with many different materials, such as steel, plywood, expanding foam, molding paste, plaster, and bungee. The construction of chairs is but one development of his artistic evolution.