A British Family? is a set of furniture that explores the dysfunctional relationships between nations of the United Kingdom
At a time where concepts of modern Britishness are evolving rapidly, ‘A British Family?’ invites conversation about the importance of shared identity and whether ‘Britishness’ really exists beyond tea, sarcasm, and Royal occasions.
Consisting of four items of furniture that each represent a different nation in the United Kingdom, and a hand tufted rug that interrogates the shared British identities holding them together, this living room suite explores the relationships between nations, and their connection to British Identity. The user's adaptation of "A British Family?", through moving the furniture around the rug, changes the power dynamic, and the relationships between the furniture reflect the changing relationships between countries of the UK.
The British Identity rug is composed of icons capturing concepts of modern Britishness. Collected from a research prototype, these icons reflect a sense of modern Britain through a mix of recognisable and abstract imagery. Positioned in the top left of the rug is a ‘Disunion Jack’, a jumbled, disassembled Union Jack that perhaps reflects the state of the Union within today’s United Kingdom.
Designer, George Duggan, intends the British Identity rug to be the first in an evolving collection, capturing the ongoing conversations and concepts of Britishness as people interact with the piece.
