“West’s furniture slows you down. It allows possibilities for contemplating art—the art that’s around you and that you sit on—and is guided by a belief that we only truly exercise our mind, and become aesthetically sensitive, when relaxed.”
—Christine MehringEvolving from his fascination with the relationship between art and the quotidian object, Franz West’s Onkel-Stühle (Uncle Chairs) and Table are iconic examples of his approach to art. Using brightly coloured straps of fabric and steel frames, West created unconventional and unique patterns for each of his dining chairs. Similarly, the artist constructed the Table using floorboards from his studio. The wood features splatters and drippings of paint, reminiscent of his sculpture series, Sitzwust. Both works are intriguing examples of how West was able to merge concepts of art and design, generating objects that not only resist traditional ideas of artmaking but also how viewers interact with the art itself. Through his sculpture furniture, West invited spectators to sit, linger, and perhaps even contemplate their views about what can be considered art.