{ SOME LINKS }

http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/11/11_chair.html

From Benches to Barstools - A History of Chairs, Posture, and Society

- Bench-like seating areas existed since neolithic times (seating is made for social spaces from the start)

- The 'Chair' is primarily a western concept
- Society status decides what seats you can sit on.

http://www.photograph-london.com/london-objects/park-benches.php

London Park Benches Photos
- A couple of nice photos on London benches


http://www.ehow.com/about_4705744_metal-park-benches.html
About Metal Park Benches
- An brief explanation of the History, types, Construction, Cost, Durability of Metal park benches.
- People believed the replacement of wooden benched with ones with metal frames in American parks signaled the end of an era of craftsmanship and the emergence of a colder, more unfriendly park experience but for others, especially cash-strapped municipalities and agencies, they were a financial boon. (park benches can form part of ones cultural identity to the extent that they can be used to comment of society)


http://voooz.com/2010/10/30/cool-and-unusual-bench-designs-in-public-places/
Cool and Unusual Bench Designs in Public Places
- Amazing bench designs
- Benches can be a piece of public art
- The form of the bench is open to any interpretation as long as the concept is intact.

http://allfurniturecollection.com/modern-luxury-public-space-seat-bench-design/
Modern and Luxury Public Space Seat Bench Design

- A beautiful bench design


http://www.contemporist.com/2010/10/28/coffee-bench-by-beyond-studio/
Coffee Bench by BEYOND Studio
- Another great example
- More purpose can be added to an object

http://brysphotostack.tumblr.com/tagged/bench

Bryan's Photo Stack - One day, One photo, One memory
- Images of park benches, mostly vacant
- notable tags public, peace, serenity, solitude, isolation, quiet, silence, relax, rest, alone, world's end, old, calm, contemplation, thinking.

http://www.freakingnews.com/Bench-Pictures---2356.asp

Bench Pictures Gallery
- Photoshop graphics involving benches
- Weird and interesting

{ BENCHISM }

http://www.benchism.org.uk/

This website, run by a bunch of benchists, talks about all things BENCH!
- I have the feeling it hasn't been updated in awhile. Registration to their forum isn't working right now.
- A UK based website, makes sense since the bench is a western concept (although adaptations and similar objects exist native to every culture, also mentioned in the 'about us' page)
- The 'benches on canvas' section and the 'benches as art' in the forum section have some nice imagery

{ DISCUSSION }

Discussion with my mentor Ms. Ramneek Kaur and the mentor group


- I was planning to look at benches in different areas of Delhi (North, South, Central.. ) Or maybe positioned at different places (Parks, Malls, Railway Stations).


- I think you should first go around a little and take pictures of different benches in Delhi.
- Maybe you could look at how men and women react differently on benches? Women often as other women for advice on clothing, if you're sitting on a bench in a clothing store.
- Look at which people come to a bench on different times of the days, how they behave on it.
- Look at different ad campaigns involving benches. e.g. The Zoozoos campaign by Vodaphone.


Discussion with Ms. Kalpana Subramanian


- Why a bench?


- I wanted to look at the bench as a means of understanding people's behavior in public spaces, in this culture (Delhi)


- The bench is a western concept that has been absorbed into our society. When an object comes from a foreign culture, we absorb it's cultural meaning in order to understand it.
- You have to decide what gives more insight as a cultural object?
- How do different kinds of people relate to a bench (Sociologically)
- Along with your live study you will have to do a semiotic study to understand how the bench works as an object in this culture.
- What is the potential for creating more meaning from a bench. Visualization?
- Forest Gump and Ryan (Animated film) are some examples of films revolving around a bench.


Discussion with Mrs. Sumita Sarkar


- Why not look at all sitting objects, why this one?
- Why not look at traditional Indian seating, like the Chabutra, or Charpai, the Base around the tree.
- How would a Charpai work in an urban space?

a link to some modernizations to the humble Charpai: http://www.design-flute.com/2007/07/09/charpoy-the-art-of-sleeping/

{ WHO IS ON THIS BENCH? }

- People..maybe some animals
- People who are there to do something on and around the bench
- Individuals and Groups of people
- People from and coming to Delhi
- People from different Social, Economic, Political, Cultural backgrounds

{ WHEN IS THIS BENCH? }

- 21th cen.
- 60 years after the country's independence
- When the city is going through a phase of modernization and globalization 
- After a global recession
- After the city has played host to the Commonwealth Games
- Winter

- November, 2010

- All times of the days

{ WHERE IS THIS BENCH? }

- I was specifically looking at Delhi. A city between the modern and traditional, one that is urbanizing fast and in the process absorbing a lot of western concepts (for good or bad).
- I was only looking at how this bench worked in a public space.

{ WHY A BENCH? }

- It was means of understanding how people behaved in public spaces, specifically Delhites (New Delhi, India).

- It was a means of understanding how an object existed within a culture.

- It was a means of understanding how people from different backgrounds interacted, and how it was visualized by media.

{ WHAT IS A BENCH? }

 a long seat for several people, typically made of wood or stone. http://oxforddictionaries.com/

A bench is a piece of furniture, on which several people may sit at the same time. Benches are typically made of wood, but may also be made of metal, stone, or synthetic materials. Many benches have arm and back rests; some have no back rest and can be sat on from either side. In public areas, benches are often donated by persons or associations, which may then be indicated on it. http://en.wikipedia.org/

and my personal favorite means of reference..

a combination of either wood or steel, it can also be made out of cement, shaped like a long chair with low back support. these are meant for people to sit on and can be found near, around, or inside most public places. most benches are strong enough to support the weight of the fatest person in the world.(well maybe not that strong) http://www.urbandictionary.com/

{ DECISIONS DECISIONS }

after discussion with my mentor and various other people, I knew the decision hinged on whether I wanted a more experimental project, free-range and completely under my control Or one that is guided by a client, one I can get constructive feedback on.


As this would be part of my last college project I decided to go for something more experimental, something I could make my own. Who knows when I'd get the chance to do that again..


*GOES AND SITS ON BENCH*