A true marvel of modern design and plastic production, the Fresh Fat Easy Chair (2006) by British designer Tom Dixon turns the process of mass manufacturing on its head — by injecting a touch of the handmade into the synthetic. Unlike most plastic furniture, which is typically created using molds in industrial quantities, Dixon’s chair is crafted through a unique process of hand extrusion. The result is a sculptural seat that blurs the line between art object and functional furniture. Continue reading Eye On Design: Tom Dixon Fresh Fat Easy Chair→
Joris Laarman (b. 1979) is a contemporary Dutch designer known for his innovative and futuristic furniture designs. One of his most famous creations is the Bone Chair, which gained considerable attention in the design world. Continue reading Eye On Design: Bone Chair By Joris Laarman→
Since the early 2000s, Seth Price has been fascinated by vacuum forming, a process in which plastic is heated and sucked against a mold. The artist repurposes the technique, traditionally used for commercial packaging, and casts unexpected objects. For Vintage Bomber (2006), he forced a PVC over the mold of a bomber jacket. Bubbles, creases, and other deformations run throughout the surface, rendering the military garment unfamiliar. Continue reading Modern Art Monday Present: Seth Price, Vintage Bomber→
Zuccotti Park in the Financial District is perhaps most famous for being ground zero for the Occupy Wall Street movement, but it’s also home to several pieces of monumental public art. For example, behold this bright red, 70-foot-high painted steel installation by sculptor Mark di Suvero, entitled Joie de Vivre (Joy of Life), which went up at the corner of Broadway and Cedar Street in June 2006. The sculpture is comprised of “open-ended tetrahedrons” as described by di Suvero, and was formerly located at the Holland Tunnel rotary. Continue reading Joy of Life Sculpture in Zuccotti Park→
Just across Water Street from the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a tiny circular plaza, lined with shops and cafes, known as Coentis Slip. In the center of the plaza you will find the similarly-named Coenties Ship by renowned sculptor Bryan Hunt. The 20 foot tall structure that stands upon vertically on a circular dome of cast glass is impossible to ignore. With the Spaceship-like form of this sculpture, Hunt has stated that he intended to invoke buoyancy and nautical nuance poised for a future. The sculpture was erected in October of 2006. Continue reading Eye On Design: Bryan Hunt’s Coenties Ship→
