The sceptical structures of Max / James Beckett.

Artist James Beckett shines light on inventor Max Himmelheber, who modernised particleboard. Originally an act of frugality, Himmelheber bound the waste of sawmills with phenol resin, resulting in a highly versatile, stable product. Also known as chipboard, this material has spawned a love-hate relationship due its disposability, and more recently discovered environmental impact. Almost pre-empting the material's pitfalls, Himmelheber turned his attention to a set of philosophical writings on humanity's role in an industrialised world, displaying a culturally conservative distrust of unchecked technical progress. His character perme...

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