#3 THE CROWN JEWELS
BY ÅSA STENERHAG
june 21 – 2022
Words by Sanna Fehrman
Massproductions presents its third interpretation in the series “The Crown Jewels”, where four creators have been asked to renew worn-out Crown Armchairs. In the third version, the Swedish artist Åsa Stenerhag has created two Crown Jewels from partially recycled textiles.
Massproductions presents its third interpretation in the series “The Crown Jewels”, where four creators have been asked to renew worn-out Crown Armchairs. In the third version, the Swedish artist Åsa Stenerhag has created two Crown Jewels from partially recycled textiles.
“I chose to frame and strengthen the chair’s silhouette by putting a black ribbon along all the edges. It was a simple update but still elegant and timeless. The other becomes more like an object, a sculpture. “
“Alien Autopsy” exhibition in 2018
Massproductions and Åsa Stenerhag have previously collaborated in the exhibition “Alien Autopsy” in 2018, where stoneware sculptures in organic shapes and textures by the artist decorated the Landa table series. This time the theme for the collaboration is recycling, in one version Stenerhag reuses the fabric from a sofa that was to be covered, the other version the chair is upholstered in a stretchy jersey fabric.
“Since I work a lot with shape, whether it is about design or sculpturing, I felt I wanted to work on and emphasis the shape of the Crown. So it turned out in two directions, shape and un-shape. “
Åsa Stenerhag reused fabric from a Dandy Sofa.
How did you create your new Crown?
By using the material of an old Massproductions’ sofa, that was to be changed. Adding black ribbons on all sides to frame the chair and to highlight the silhouette. The other one as a contrast and sort of a non shape take on the chair. Like a shadow of the object.
How would you describe the result?
I am happy with the result. Two different ways of working with the distinct shape of the chair. The one with ribbons is a chair I very much would like myself. It is a very simple update yet elegant and timeless. The other one is more like an object, like a sculpture one could say. Using a soft jersey to be able to ”hide” the shape and at the same time a new shape appears. It is nice to sit in with a sense of being embraced.
” I wanted to emphasize the chair’s distinctive shape. The idea came quite directly to work with form versus anti-form, although the process took many turns for the black chair before I finally went back to basics. I have in the past worked a lot with form, whether it be clothes or sculpture, so it felt natural to work from those experiences in different ways with Crown.”
Creativity has been with Åsa since childhood but has taken on different expressions. Åsa Stenerhag worked for several years in fashion as design manager for prominent brands such as Filippa K and Toteme. For the past three years, however, her focus has been on art and mainly ceramics, where her tactile, abstract and organic design language characterizes the objects she produces. In her studio in Vasastan, Åsa works with her ceramics, where she is surrounded by her sculptures. But when she started working with Massproductions, she returned to another area she was well acquainted with, textiles.
” I sketch a lot, thats why I always bring my sketch book wherever I go. But it never really become as the sketch, it is more like a preparation and to process the things coming to my mind. I also take a lot of pictures with my phone of details I see during the day. It can be a shape, the light, a shadow or the surface of a material that interests me. I like very much to be in the process, that’s where the magic happens.”
“The soft jersey fabric “hides” the shape at the same time as a completely new silhouette emerges. It is comfortable to sit in and gives an embracing feeling.”
“I wanted to reuse materials as much as possible and therefore used the fabric for the band-edged chair from an old Massproductions’ sofa that was to be upholstered. The other chair becomes a contrast, like a shadow of the chair.”
The exhibition will be on display until August 2022 at Massproductions Works in Stockholm. Price up on request.
