TH 24 07 photo: estudio cavallero

in his continued exploration and manipulation of the iconic thonet chair, paris-based pablo reinoso has produced a series of sculptural objects which physically extend the bentwood furniture piece beyond the chair’s normal boundaries.

pablo reinoso: thonet chair sculptures TH 14 05 wood 87 x 180 x 74 cm photo: maxime ruiz

for one group of objects, reinoso has duplicated and stretched the back’s of the chairs, to create in someway a projection of a distorted, elongated ‘shadows’ captured in the bentwood. these extensions also act as structural support for the pieces.

pablo reinoso: thonet chair sculptures TH 16 06 photo: estudio cavallero

pablo reinoso: thonet chair sculptures TH 04 05 wood variable dimensions photo: carlos yebra

in another set, he has focused on the transformation of the chair’s seat, replicating the circular frame and utilizing the caning material in an alternative way. in ‘TH 04 05’, he has multiplied the seat four times, using vegetal fibres to connect the additional circular frames as if it is falling out of itself.

pablo reinoso: thonet chair sculptures TH 13 05 wood 146 x 45cm diameter photo: carlos yebra

with ‘TH 13 05’, reinoso has pulled the chair seat upwards in a vertical structure, using three additional frames to create a tubular form which cannot be sat on.

pablo reinoso: thonet chair sculptures TH 06 05 wood 86 x 45 cm diameter photo: carlos yebra

‘TH 06 05’ pushes the seat into a downward’s motion, creating a basket-like form within the frame.

pablo reinoso: thonet chair sculptures TH 21 06 wood variable dimensions photo: estudio cavallero

instead of using the caning vegetal fibres in their typical form, ‘TH 21 06’ and ‘TH 09 05’ exhibit them in their natural unwoven state, flowing outwards and gathering in huge masses around the bases of the chairs themselves.

pablo reinoso: thonet chair sculptures TH 09 05 wood variable dimensions photo: carlos yebra