DOWSING PROJECT - 2024
Mike Hankin and Mercedes Plazola transform the ancient practice
of dowsing into contemporary design interventions that investigate ways of strengthening our relationship with nature.
Traditionally, dowsing involves using a hazel or willow rod to divine for water, metals and minerals. These newly designed dowsing rods, however, serve no fixed purpose. They instead, invite users to contemplate their natural surroundings and reflect on their place within them.
Typically, nature-centred designs focus on facilitating human interaction with the environment. However, this project tries to turn this concept on its head. These dowsing rods are not just tools for interaction but objects that invite deep contemplation and reflection.
The act of using these rods becomes a meditative process, a mindful form of dialogue where the user is both guided by and guides the natural world. This interplay between human and nature is central to the project, encouraging a reciprocal relationship that deepens our connection to the environment.
The humble materials chosen for these dowsing rods—traditional hazel wood and iron—are not merely functional but deeply symbolic. These materials have a rich history, once integral to ancient agricultural tools that required a rhythmic, repetitive, and performative approach.
Just as a scythe or plough connects the farmer to land through physical and mindful processes, these dowsing rods connect the user to nature. Unlike traditional tools designed for a specific task, the primary function of these rods is not to find water or treasure.
Instead, their purpose lies in the journey itself, creating a subtle often unconscious connection with nature.