Tell me about the philosophy behind this collection for Time & Style.
All these objects are just objects that don't know what they are. They are in an existential crises because they are not obvious as a chair, or a stool, or a table. But, they think, maybe I am that thing. An object that does nothing must be very much about form. Beautiful forms do not have be justified by function. They become sculptural. They change the mood of a space and its atmosphere.
What is the atmosphere you are trying to create?
When you walk into a space filled with these objects, I like it to feel a bit like a parallel universe. You understand sort of what these objects are. They remind you of chairs you know and tables you know, but they create a slight shift in how you see things and feel things. That's what I知 trying to do.
Tell me about these objects that look like sections of tree trunk.
This is called "Objects with an existential crises末Maybe I am a stool." You can sit on it or let it be a useless sculpture. This narrower one is "Cousin of objects with an existential crises末 I am a stool too." Then there are the stools flipped on their heads, acting as tables. They池e called "Objects with an existential crises 末Maybe I am a table" and "Cousin of objects with an existential crises末 I am also a table." These objects exist to create an effect on emotions and space, but they are also functional.
What about Bubu?
Bubu is beautiful as a sculpture, but he is so big and takes up so much space that he's embarrassed, so he decides that maybe he should do something else. He becomes a light. But it is not light to read by. It's an up-light that illuminates the space and adds something to the atmosphere, a glow in the corner of a space.
What designers do you find inspiring?
Definitely Eames. When I start with my designs, no matter how conceptual or sculptural or strange, when you strip them down and look at the parts that make it up, you池e always left with a little bit of Eames. I cannot help myself, it痴 such a strong part of my design influence, but I知 glad to look at my work and see that influence.
What are your favorites pieces from ICFF? I知 really impressed by Materialise.MGX. Their use and understanding of technology for lighting is amazing.
Patrick Chia
Time & Style
Tokyo,
Japan
For his latest collaboration with Time & Style, Chia created "Objects with an existential crises." They don't know what they are or what they're supposed to be. Do they serve a purpose? Are they a chair, a lamp, a sculpture? Maybe they are all those things. We caught up with Patrick Chia at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair to figure it all out.
Selected Works
Bubu on the left with some of Chia's other "Objects with an existential crises" for Time & Style.
The squeeze fiberglass bench with hidden storgage for Chia's own firm, Squeeze Design.
Time & Style
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