DESIGNART TOKYO 2024　PARADOX Series Exhibition

When all the elements that constitute an object are replaced, can we still say it is the "same" object as before? This is an example of the Ship of Theseus paradox, which raises questions about identity. Similarly, this chair is designed as a paradoxical product that transforms into a "different entity" through a structure intended for material exchange. Traditionally, furniture, the culmination of craftsmanship, has been valued as a finished product. However, this project redefines that value by reassigning it to individual components, offering a new system of furniture that can be passed down through generations.

The seat of the chair is wide, and the armrests are set lower to allow for a cross-legged sitting posture, providing a sense of comfort. The armrests also incorporate the rare piano lacquer technique of IYOBE Craft, one of the few in Japan. The series integrates opposing elements such as stillness and movement, heaviness and lightness, creating contrast and expressing dynamism in the design.