Chenkang Kenny Wu
Portfolio
What makes human unique is our ability to use tools and be creative. Often ignored in the creation process is our fingers. They are often times just there and we don't necessarily think much about them. The fact is it is impossible to live our day without the use of fingers.
The Finger Side Table is less functional as an object; it's more an intimate statement on human identity and craft. Designed using 3D modeling, the table stands there honestly. This intriguing height hints at its purpose beyond mere functionality, driving the viewer to engage with it.
Losing touch as if we are not apes
The biomechanics of our fingers are a marvel of natural engineering. Each finger, excluding the thumb, consists of three phalanges connected by two interphalangeal joints. The thumb, distinctively, has two phalanges and one interphalangeal joint. These joints enable the fingers to flex, extend, abduct, and adduct.
Underneath the skin, a complex network of tendons, ligaments, and muscles work in tandem to produce the wide range of movements our fingers are capable of. For example, the flexor tendons allow our fingers to curl, while the extensor tendons straighten them. The unique muscle-tendon structure gives us both strength and precision in our grip.
The fingertips are also sensory hubs, dense with touch receptors known as Meissner's corpuscles and Merkel cells. These enable us to discern fine textures and sense minute details, essential for tasks that require finesse and precision.
Implications of Loss
Simple acts like gripping a cup, writing, buttoning a shirt, or even using a smartphone become arduous challenges without the full use of fingers. Beyond the tangible, the psychological and emotional ramifications are also significant. The fingers aren't just tools; they're a primary mode of tactile interaction with the world. Through them, we feel textures, temperatures, and even emotions when we hold a loved one's hand or play a musical instrument.
