I can only guess that 2041 was the name of this cow, and can imagine this number was stamped onto the Butt of this animal with a scorching hot branding iron. The pain in which this animal went through to be branded would have been horrible to say the least.

For a hot branding iron to work effectively it needs to be on the cow for between 2-5 seconds. If you have ever accidentally touched a red hot oven element with the top of your hand for a split second (like I have) you would of felt pain. Imagine leaving your hand on that element for 2-5 seconds, totally unbearable.

The Butt 2041 stool is made of an American ash timber seat, with 3 separate leather legs that interweave each other. Each piece of leather was fixed to the timber seat and fixed around a jig that was temporarily fixed to the bottom of the seat. This was then submerged into boiling hot water for about 40 seconds. It was then taken out and left to dry, still with the jig attached for about 3-4 days until it completely dried.

Through this boiling leather process I learnt a lot, including letting go of my desire to control a process. I had to let the leather form its own landscape. I could hold parts of it to a shape, but what I did not hold down tight, the leather had a mind of its own as to where it would lay to rest. As seen above with three different pieces of leather, from the same hide, using the same jig and boiling process, resulted in three different outcomes.

Once I let go of control, the fulfillment I felt at being immersed in a process where the outcome was unknown was an absolute joy. Below are some images of the process for this piece:

— NOT FOR SALE —

This project was supported by Creative New Zealand: