MARIA LEITE

CONCRETE

Documenting Concrete Experiments

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My interest in concrete emerged from readings on modern architecture and studies focusing on the use of concrete in the early 1900's with work of Auguste Perret, and later with Le Corbusier's mastery in using reinforced concrete (Collins, 1959; Forty, 2012). Although my work is not of an architect, the multiple possibilities of concrete as an architectural material and as an alternative for the creation of separate decorative pieces intrigued me to a point that led me to conduct some experiments with the simple goal to learn more about physical, chemical, and aesthetic properties of concrete.

The visual and textural unpredictability of the material are significant in determining the personality of each piece. Although we are often surrounded by concrete walls, sidewalks, fountains, benches, and many other artifacts, we rarely observe the various shades and textures concrete has to offer. This quality makes each piece a unique form of decorative art that is rich and simple in its nature. The purpose of this unpretentious collection of photos was to record initial images of decorative pieces created during experiments using concrete.

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After many experiments and some broken pieces, the final result. The glossy clear coat seals the concrete and emphasizes the imperfections. The photos and observations of light and contrast were also fun to conduct. The concrete shows different colors and shades as it dries and interacts with other materials such as water, sealer, wax, and the final clear coat.

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