andrés reisinger documents the creation of the cloud-like ‘hortensia’ chair in new short film

the ever-evolving hortensia chair

Barcelona-based digital artist Andrés Reisinger showcases his newly completed Hortensia Documentary, which narrates the origin, evolution and range of materializations of the textural pink-hued chair. The work has been taking shape through a new medium with every spring since 2018 — beginning its life as a digital rendering, then becoming a ‘rare design creation’ in 2020, then a ‘popular object’ in 2021. Finally, it is presented through the lens of a documentary which brings viewers along this gradual journey from fiction to reality.

The Hortensia Documentary was directed by María Sosa Betancor and produced by Mañana. The team describes the short film as ‘an experimental piece that shares how Hortensia’s different stages have always been based on a dream.’ Watch the full documentary here.

images courtesy Reisinger Studio | @reisinger.studio

a digital dream brought to sensual reality

Andrés Reisinger’s Hortensia was born first as a 3D visualization and as such, was limited by the boundaries of the digital world. Reisinger (see here) worked with designer Júlia Esqué (see here) to bring the chair to life and into the physical world. The group notes that the duo ‘wanted to bring their dream to a sensual reality they could touch and feel.‘

Manipulating textiles with an innovative technique, the soft textures which wrap the chair mimic the the rich floral textures found in the natural environment. The team explains that the result ‘gives life to an experience enriched by both realms: digital and physical, a new future overwhelmed with possibilities and creative challenges.‘

confronting and narrating time

While narrating the lifespan of Hortensia, director Maria Sosa Bentacor and producer Mañana explored other universal themes. These include the confrontation of the real with the unreal, life and death, and the physical and the digital.

The short film became a stage to narrate a more conceptual protagonist of Reisinger’s work and Hortensia’s journey, time. The team explains: ‘Investigating how it differs from the physical to the digital realm, with Hortensia Reisinger has given life to something that lives and can continue to live concurrently in both dimensions’ times.‘

the fabrication process: echoing pink hydrangeas

The designers continue: ‘At first, a seemingly surreal and oniric 3D rendering; soon after, a viral image on social media. To respond to the public’s desires, Reisinger took upon himself the challenge to make this cloud-like chair a reality. Visibly, the main inspiration behind this project comes from hydrangea flowers: thousands of pale pink petals hide the underlying structure, giving shape to the design.

‘To overcome the challenge of creating this incredibly complex, singular fluffy surface, Reisinger implemented a new production process in collaboration with Jùlia Esqué. Around 500 strips of laser-cut fabric were ruched into clusters and assembled together in order to make the physical Hortensia Chair.’

the soft textures which wrap the chair mimic the the rich floral textures found in nature

200 square meters of pink polyester were used to craft the petal-like surface of Hortensia

around 500 strips of laser-cut fabric were ruched into clusters and assembled together

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project info: 

project title: Hortensia Documentary

chair production: Andrés Reisinger, Júlia Esqué

creative direction: Andrés Reisinger

film director: María Sosa Betancor

film producer: Mañana