Equilibrium Chair | Conceptual Design
This chair is the physical representation of my philosophy of living. In life, we are faced with a number of challenging events that disrupt our environment and any sense of balance we may have established. A fulfilling life requires embracing, rather than running from, difficulty. Traumatic experiences and suffering remind us how little control we have in a lifetime. They represent a limit to our power and knowledge as humans; paradoxically, they also represent opportunities for our self-becoming. They are our foundation of freedom.
If we accept the disruption and press on, there is a process of overcoming and resolving conflict that ultimately leads to personal transformation. To be truly alive, we must come to terms with the fact that loss and gain are always counterbalanced in perfect equilibrium. We need both to progress as humans.
MY PROCESS: The design evolved from an examination of the early 20th century De Stijl movement and a personal story. After gaining an understanding of De Stijl's manifesto, and the conditions that gave way to such an extreme rejection of tradition, I explored a variety of forms through sketches (320 in total) and models.
“No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you, must cross the river of life.” - Friedrich Nietzsche.