Ron Arad - Design / Design Art New York Thursday, December 14, 2006 | Phillips

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  • Literature

    Deyan Sudjic, Ron Arad, London, 1999, p. 104; Gareth Williams, The Furniture Machine, since 1990, London, 2006, p. 114

  • Catalogue Essay

    Ron Arad’s “This Mortal Coil” bookshelf’s free-standing circular shape and partitioned, hinged form changes and sways with the weight of the books set upon it, allowing the user to change the bookshelf’s form by adding or subtracting books. “This Mortal Coil’s” shape and philosophy stem from Arad’s wall-mounted “Bookworm” bookshelf, a version of which was mass-produced by Kartell, and is part of a ‘family’ of designs inspired by the idea of escaping the boundaries of traditional, linear shelving.

  • Artist Biography

    Ron Arad

    Israeli • 1951

    Ron Arad's work and career is characterized by his movement between modes and constant experimentation. Arad was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1951 and studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Art before moving to London in 1973. He began his practice in London in the early 1980s and set up One Off Ltd, focused on limited edition objects, with his partner Caroline Thorman. A decade later he had moved to industrial production techniques and collaborations with large design firms such as Vitra and Kartell.

    A persistent theme throughout his work is innovation and the idea of the "new." Still producing work today, Arad uses the latest technology to produce his designs and also integrates it within his pieces, such as his Lolita Chandelier (2004) that can receive and display text messages. Arad also continually experiments with materials and has an exceptional skill to coax volume and undulation out of them, with a particular affinity for metal. His works such as The Big Easy chair (1988) walk the line between design and sculpture. Once an outsider, Arad's relentless energy to design, build and collaborate has placed him firmly within the highest ranks of the design world.

    View More Works

253

"This Mortal Coil" bookshelf

1993
Blackened tempered steel.
87 x 86 5/8 x 13 in. (221 x 220.5 x 33.1 cm)
Produced by Ron Arad Studio. Number 8 from an edition of 20. Engraved with signature "R. Arad" and "8/20."

Estimate
$50,000 - 70,000 

Sold for $117,600

Design / Design Art

14 Dec 2006, 2pm
New York