Many written Chinese characters are derived from the shape and form of objects. This concept of deriving form from rhythm, flow, and movement inspired me to design pieces of furniture that brings this idea into everyday life. This chair project encapsulates the essence of the traditional Crane Dance: a dance performed by the Chaoxian (Korean) ethnic minority group in China that mimics Cranes and their movement during flight.
By studying the dance and quickly sketching down the forms of dancers in paused snapshots, I was able to gather around 30 movements on a sheet of paper. I would then simplify the lines and eliminate a few variations of the samples. These chairs directly mimic the movement of the dancers; I created a quarter scale final model and further refined the materiality, mimicking dark oak for a traditional touch and incorporating rope instead of traditional cushioning to add lightness visually.
The CAD models were made with Rhinoceros 3D, and the quarter scale physical model featured stacking and sanding laser cut MDF, painting, and weaving.
