Xin Chen · CLIENT: Xin Chen
The main purposes of Xin Chen's design are communicating the different cultures and offering a new experiencing to appreciate the furniture. He has created a new way of constructing furniture that is joining all individual parts and holding them together through rope by tension without gluing and screwing. He has also created a new form of furniture representation that is disassembling the furniture into individual pieces, then rearranging and transforming into a new cultural image representation. The design can be satisfied with both functional and aesthetic for people simultaneously.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This chair is called Square or Circle. The most interesting feature is that the chair is held together by tension, and can be disassembled into individual pieces, which can then be rearranged and transformed into a representation of the Chinese instrument, a Liuqin. This design can satisfy both functional and aesthetic needs. Meanwhile, it also allows people to carry it easily because all parts can be dismantled for transportation.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 432mm x 534mm x 1143mm
All parts can be dismantled for transportation. - Tags
- Chair, Chinese style, Disassembled, Wood, Joinery
- Production Technology
- It is made of cherry, walnut, fiber rope and hardware. The whole chair was joined together by different parts (seat, back, legs, and stretcher) without using glue, nails, and screws. Meanwhile, it holds together by a rope in tension.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge of this design is that one design can be fitted in both forms a chair form and a representation of Liuqin.
- Project Duration
- This project started in March 2016 and finished in May 2016 at Iowa state university. It was exhibited in The 22nd International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA, the USA in December 2016.
- Operation Flow
- The chair was joined together without using glue, nails, and screws. Meanwhile, it holds together by a rope in tension. Users can lose the rope, then disassemble the chair in different pieces.
- Research
- The purpose of this design is to inspire people to think and appreciate differently about furniture. The chair is not only a piece of functional furniture but also attracts people to explore different cultural traditions. The design applies some Chinese elements to represent Chinese cultures, such as the color of Chinese red, and the yin and yang circle which is from the traditional Chinese philosophy.
- Inspiration
- This design is inspired by a traditional Chinese instrument Liuqin and the Italian Strozzi chair. The purpose of the design is to communicate the different cultures of Eastern and Western to modern audiences. I want to explore the cultural differences and similarities by using my design as a vehicle because I am experiencing it.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Image #2: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Image #3: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Image #4: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Image #5: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Press releases are available in 1 languages.