Seat of Honor: Denmark honors Hans WegnerOn 100th Anniversary with “one good chair” exhibit
He could be called “Chair Man of the Board” for his contributions to modern Danish art, his 1500 designs of chairs, and his use of natural wood and fiber. I love the passion he had for taking beautiful natural wood and creating one-of-a-kind masterpieces. He influenced a lot of designers throughout the world and is considered one of the fathers of organic modernism. He was one of my true inspirations for doing what I do today.
Wegner delighted in creating aesthetically beautiful chairs from natural materials, combining form and functionality in ways never seen before. He was especially popular in the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s. I loved the way he got inspired from things like axe-handles and oars to create his organic designs. I look for inspirations myself every day in nature’s backyard.
Wegner designed his first chair in 1949. It was his first, but it wouldn’t be his last. As Wegner put it, “If only you could design just one good chair in your life... but you simply cannot." So he went and designed 1500 more.
A lot of modernists like Wegner were considered boring, but not him. His designs were called very “human.” They were poetry in motion and also very practical. I walk the same natural path with my own Aspen log creations. People seem to love one-of-kind pieces of nature-inspired furniture.
Below are a few of my favorites
Shell Chair and Halyard Chair
The designmuseum danmark is featuring the exhibit. “Wegner: just one good chair,” in Copenhagen now through November 2, 2014. It tells the story of his life and work, using 150 pieces of his work along with his drawings, photos and models. Stop by if you’re in the neighborhood.
til next time. xx Andrea