When he presented his work at this year’s Art Basel, he was known as an artist, but Sehwa himself prefers the term ‘furniture artist.’ He first made a name for himself with his series of Lighting Tables that look like plain birch wood until you plug them in to reveal the pattern underneath.

His recent work, however, leans towards more craft-based, one-of-kind furniture, made entirely out of wood. The work that blew away the crowds at Art Basel are from his Steam series that includes lighting and “sittable” pieces made from bent wood.




designer: bae sehwa



about perrin drumm

The Sparkling Chair is made out of PET plastic and produced using the same blow molding technique commonly used for water bottles. After the molding process, the hollow spaces are filled with high pressure air to strengthen the design. With this technique the plastic usage is minimal and the total weight of the chair is only around 1kg. The legs are screwed onto the shell.

Specifications:
Product name: sparkling chair
Color: transparent green
Material: PET plastic
Width: 42.3 cm
Height: 77.6 cm
Depth: 49.0 cm

Designer: marcel wanders
Producer: magis

Designer: mike and maaike
Producer: Council

[swiss miss]

Designer: Barber Osgerby
Producer: Isokon Plus

The Kartell store in New York recently exhibited Mr. Impossible, a series of chairs by Philippe Starck. While the design for Mr. Impossible was conceived years ago, the technology needed to weld two transparent shells together did not exist until recently. Also on display was Starck’s Misses Flower Power, a collection of large-scale prototype vases made from transparent polycarbonate.

Material:
batch-dyed or clear polycarbonate

Dimensions:
L. 62 cm; H. 79 cm; D. 70 cm.

Colours:
transparent seat version: crystal, green, grey, ochre, purple, orangey-red;
mat seat version: Kartell red, white, black, silver; structure: transparent.

Design:
Philippe Starck

Manufacturer:
Kartell

Seen:
moco loco

If you like Eames, a collectors item, a childs toy resurfaces.

During the early 1940s Charles and Ray Eames developed a successful technique for molding plywood into three-dimensional shapes, which led to the creation of a variety of furnishings and sculptures. The Plywood Elephant, in particular, has attained legendary status among collectors. Designed in 1945, this piece requires complex fabrication methods. Only two prototypes were produced, both of which were subsequently displayed in an exhibition at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Today only one known model remains in the possession of the Eames Family.

Charles and Ray Eames were fascinated by elephants. Many images of these gentle giants are found in Charles’ photographic documentations of Indian culture and the circus world. The Plywood Elephant was designed as a toy for children, but also as a striking sculptural object that makes a statement in any environment with its vigorous curves and delightful character. There is a playful charm in the way that the Eameses used juvenile motifs to create a vibrant, cheerful idiom that appeals to adults as well as children.

June 17, 2007 marked the 100th birthday of Charles Eames. To commemorate this occasion, Vitra is producing a limited Anniversary Edition of the Eames Plywood Elephant. Designed in 1945, this piece attained legendary status in spite of the fact that it never went into production.

The 2007 Anniversary Edition of the Eames Plywood Elephant is strictly limited world-wide to 1000 pieces in each of two versions, natural maple and red stained maple. The serial number of each Plywood Elephant is engraved on a small aluminum plaque. DA is sorry this post is so late in coming. Check with Vitra to see if any are still available.