tokujin yoshioka: 'the invisibles' for kartell

'the invisibles' is the result of the latest collaboration between japanese designer tokujin yoshioka
and kartell's president, claudio luti. the series comes ten years after the 'invention'
of transparency, in which kartell expresses a new stylistic approach to 'invisible furniture'.
'the invisibles' will be on show during milan design week 2010 at the kartell flagstore.


'invisible', 2010

'the invisibles' is a range of furniture: tables, sofas, armchairs and benches yoshioka
has designed for kartell where the play of the evanescence of transparency is all-encompassing.
the pieces share a lightness, complete in transparency, but still have a feeling of solidness -
the maxi forms exhibiting a thickness which has never been seen in polycarbonate design
pieces previously. the series is a continuation of yoshioka's exploration of the ethereal,
combined with kartell's desire to invest in its own technological 'know-how' in order to give life
to new forms.


'invisible', 2010


tokujin yoshioka sitting on 'invisible'


'invisible' table

'in recent years, I have proposed designs, which include natural phenomena and invisible elements
such as sense, wind and light. 'the invisibles' is a special collection for kartell which leaves one
with the sense of sitting in the air. the presence of the object is eradicated and creates a scene
where the sitter appears to be floating. it is as if the physical presence of the object has been uprooted
and gives life to a 'floating scenario'. even the installation ('snowflake') gives visitors the sensation
of entering an unreal world.' - TY


'snowflake', 2010

'snowflake' is a poetic installation in which yoshioka creates a serene world with multiple
transparent prism sticks in plastic. this mass accumulation of transparent elements,
are tainted with white to give the effect of snow.


one of the plastic prism sticks which will be used to create the effect of 'snow'


'invisible' chair sketch


'snowflake' installation sketch