Sculpt
Chair
Paul Heijnen's Sculpt Chair was first presented in its rudimentary form in 2019 during his 10-year anniversary exhibition at the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. Constructed from thin slats of steam-bent wood, it aimed to break away from straight lines in his designs, seeking organic shapes and structures.
After years of conceptualizing how the chair could be finalized into a functional object, Paul embarked on a journey to find materials and techniques that could manifest the chair in a way that reflects his deeper values of art, crafts, and design. This journey culminated when he discovered a method to solidify oil paint within a few hours into a state that can be sculpted and reworked or built upon. This breakthrough allowed him to seamlessly meld various materials together with the most spectacular marbling, without the need for ceramic ovens or metal forging. Although the process has a steep and long learning curve, it demands deep and substantial exploration to learn how to control and steer the material in new and unforeseen ways, promising an interesting and refreshing evolution in his work.
Drawing from age-old Japanese techniques like Nerikomi in ceramics and Mokume-gane in precious metals, as well as the Italian method of creating candy called Millefiori, Paul also looked at the palettes of Impressionist painters like Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet when deciding which colors to use. The self-invented material and its qualities evoke memories of old marbleized paper found inside book covers and have a strong Fordite gemstone energy that takes years to accumulate and grow.
The shapes of the curved framework or skeleton beneath the oil paint, emerging from the marbleized surface, are inspired by architectural movements such as Art Nouveau, as well as studies by philosopher and zoologist Ernst Haeckel, mixed with a hint of Carlo Mollino. At first glance, the chair gives off a surrealistic and even trippy effect, drawing you in closer and revealing itself in new ways every time you see it. Depending on the lighting and the weather, the chair changes its appearance, continually captivating you and inviting you to sit.
When seated, the parabolically shaped ear wings focus sounds from your surroundings onto yourself, shifting your perception of the environment. This makes it a perfect place for listening to the world around you, offering a clearer vision of what should be done or what is truly necessary in this world.
Year 2019-2024
Edition 10+1P+1AP
Exclusive to Rossana Orlandi Art Gallery
130 x130x 100 cm.
After years of conceptualizing how the chair could be finalized into a functional object, Paul embarked on a journey to find materials and techniques that could manifest the chair in a way that reflects his deeper values of art, crafts, and design. This journey culminated when he discovered a method to solidify oil paint within a few hours into a state that can be sculpted and reworked or built upon. This breakthrough allowed him to seamlessly meld various materials together with the most spectacular marbling, without the need for ceramic ovens or metal forging. Although the process has a steep and long learning curve, it demands deep and substantial exploration to learn how to control and steer the material in new and unforeseen ways, promising an interesting and refreshing evolution in his work.
Drawing from age-old Japanese techniques like Nerikomi in ceramics and Mokume-gane in precious metals, as well as the Italian method of creating candy called Millefiori, Paul also looked at the palettes of Impressionist painters like Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet when deciding which colors to use. The self-invented material and its qualities evoke memories of old marbleized paper found inside book covers and have a strong Fordite gemstone energy that takes years to accumulate and grow.
The shapes of the curved framework or skeleton beneath the oil paint, emerging from the marbleized surface, are inspired by architectural movements such as Art Nouveau, as well as studies by philosopher and zoologist Ernst Haeckel, mixed with a hint of Carlo Mollino. At first glance, the chair gives off a surrealistic and even trippy effect, drawing you in closer and revealing itself in new ways every time you see it. Depending on the lighting and the weather, the chair changes its appearance, continually captivating you and inviting you to sit.
When seated, the parabolically shaped ear wings focus sounds from your surroundings onto yourself, shifting your perception of the environment. This makes it a perfect place for listening to the world around you, offering a clearer vision of what should be done or what is truly necessary in this world.
Year 2019-2024
Edition 10+1P+1AP
Exclusive to Rossana Orlandi Art Gallery
130 x130x 100 cm.
