Prometeo Knife
The Prometeo Knife is the product of a deep analysis of the direct relationship between the knife and animal consumerism. The forms of these hand-made ceramic knifes are inspired by primitive tools and reminds us the development of our civilization and what we must preserve. This product suggests a responsible consumption of meat, being ideal to cut fruits and vegetables.
During the second semester of my third year of university, the task of developing a knife was proposed by the teacher. It was a project of an entire semester. Deciding the functionality of the tool was the starting point of the project, but I focused on the investigation. After analyzing the development of this tool along history, some interesting points emerged. The knife was our first tool to survive, we used it to hunt and to fight against other civilizations for territories. But today, this aggressive tool is mainly used to eat, and in times in which what we consume is completely related with global warming, it seemed coherent for me to focus on this relation.
After analyzing the direct relationship between the knife and animal consumerism, my idea was to develop a knife that suggest a responsible consume to the user. As a consequence, I decided to go back to the roots of this object with the help of one of the first materials we dominated: ceramic. The morphology of this series of knifes was inspired by many ancient tools I saw in some archaeological museums during my investigation. Finally, I used a glaze that cracks in the oven to fill the cracked spaces with a black oxide to represent the way glaciers are breaking because of our irresponsible consumption.
As a natural result of the project, I noticed the knife's edge breaks when in contact with bones, which in certain way suggests the responsible consumption of food I was looking for.
When I finally had the concept, it was complicated to translate it into a simple object. My intention was never to end with an excessively exotic or primitive morphology. Since the principal idea was to suggest a responsible consume, I wanted my knife to fit everywhere... simplicity was necessary.
The main problem of a ceramic knife is the fragility, as a consequence, I went from the thickest form to the thinnest one, until I found the thicker one that could cut perfectly all the fruits and vegetables. Thinking with my hands, I did more than 50 prototypes to finally understand the form that the series of knifes should have. Since they were all hand-made, it made sense for me to make a series rather than doing the same product over and over again.
The knife needed to be baked twice. The first one to pass it through the knife sharpener (I needed the ceramic to be strong enough to resist the sharpener), and the second one, to add the white glaze that cracks. After the second glaze the black oxide was added filling all the cracked spaces.
After I presented the project, the audience thought it was quite an argument and I learned storytelling have always been fundamental for my work. I don't design things just to satisfy a function, I believe in products as sculptures, in objects that have a voice and the intention of making a better world.
