The Hipstool Series by Seo Chung Kyo is a furniture collection comprising stools and side tables that through intricate metal engravings, seeks to capture the essence of daily life experiences. Emphasizing the significance embedded within the mundane yet meaningful, the series draws inspiration from the modern lifestyle’s of individuals with sedentary routines. Playfully capturing the patterns and indentations left in the fabric of seats, the Hipstool Series utilizes stainless steel and a projection technique to contrast the robust surfaces with shadows to delineate intricate patterns.
all images courtesy of Seo Chung Kyo
seo chung kyo embraces the material’s inherent hues
Along the surfaces of the Hipstool Series, the absence of artificial paint accentuates the inherent colors of the metal and oxide film, enhancing the weightiness and sleek feel of the furniture pieces. A cold joint welding method to seamlessly combine different components, ensuring both usability and stability. The resulting pieces blur the boundaries between art and functional furniture, offering viewers and opportunity for direct engagement and communication with the work.
The series emerges from reflection on how prolonged periods of sitting have become commonplace, with individuals often subject to extended desk-bound houses, leading to what Seo Chung Kyo refers to as ‘heavy hips’ and ‘hip fights’. ‘I thought I could express the behavior of modern people like fabric patterns. Weave it like a rope, fill it with area like it’s a confrontation, and list the continuous and constant patterns. This represents us fighting fiercely every day,’ notes the designer.
Seo Chung Kyo presents the Hipstool Series
stools and side tables marked with intricate metal engravings
the series is a playful metal interpretation of the patterns and indentations left in the fabric of seats