Resilience

Project Info

Responding to the corporeal qualities of wood as a once living, growing material, this sculptural chair navigates the affinity between the beautiful and the grotesque.

Carved from solid ash, the sinuous limbs of Resilience envelope its sitter, aiming to provoke a simultaneous sense of disquiet and intrigue.

The intent to create an appearance of a singular, continuous form dictated joint decisions and construction techniques. The arm and headrests are shaped using steam bending, while stud locations are carefully mapped out to allow the material to be carved away without exposing joints. The grain direction of the wood is also thoughtfully incorporated into the design, enhancing the appearance of growth and movement.

Working from a sketch, the delicate, seemingly organic final form is wrought using a combination of power and hand tools, before being scorched, brushed, stained and lacquered.