Michael Healey
MISH
Furniture maker
Kinsale, Ireland
Layers of strength
- Michael uses bamboo to achieve strength and intricate patterns in his furniture pieces
- As an artisan without a traditional background, he draws on his own vision to build his works
- He has developed his own techniques to create the chequered effect in his woodwork
From exploring mechanics and art from an early age to honing his technique as a furniture designer today, Michael Healey has always been making. Before turning to full-time woodworking, Michael worked in technology. His personal journey into woodwork and furniture allows him to approach his craft outside traditional lines and blend his own techniques into long-standing making methods. "When I began to explore sustainable woodworking, I came to appreciate the properties of bamboo," he explains. "When people put down bamboo flooring in their house, you only see the top grain, but the side grain is far more intricate." In pursuit of harnessing the full visual aesthetic of bamboo, Michael developed a stacking method to create pieces with a distinctive aesthetic and composition.
INTERVIEW
There are things that I did not realise I could make, until I made them. I began to visualise all my designs in 3D on the computer, and over time I discovered I could live in two worlds: the technical, digital world, and a world where my ideas are experienced through touch, texture and their connection with the physical environment.
I use sustainable bamboo panels and cut them into flat pieces about 2 cm thick. Traditionally, if someone were going to create a cabinet, they would put four flat pieces together to create the box shape. I turn this concept sideways, and stack the wood. Every metre I create contains about 50 pieces.
I am often not thinking about what the finished piece should be, but rather about how far I can take the techniques. For the ECHO collection, I wanted to push bamboo’s strength. I wanted the eye to dive through each piece. The motif explores the dance of air and sound, allowing elements to flow effortlessly within the forms.
I used to build video game arcades! Conceptually, I asked why manufacturers still build clunky arcades when the hardware technology is so compact. I started with a couple of table top systems, and then made a full-sized standing cabinet arcade that doubled as a bookshelf and record player stand. That was just the beginning of rethinking my relationship with furniture and defining my signature style.
Michael Healey
MISH
Furniture maker
Kinsale, Ireland
ADDRESS
Address upon request, Kinsale, Ireland
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
LANGUAGES
English
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