CULTURE CLASH

Culture Clash explores the factors that shape furniture within two cultures and examines what happens when these then are merged. The project investigates the influences of furniture in Ming Dynasty China and contemporary Sweden, to find the commonalities and differences between these cultures. Thereafter, these findings are applied to new furniture pieces, aiming to reflect the influences of the two cultures.

The result of the project is a pair of dining chairs that draw inspiration from both the Ming Dynasty and contemporary Sweden. Both the chair’s base and decorative elements explicitly reference aspects of both cultures. The chair’s base has a minimalist aesthetic, juxtaposed with ornamental motifs. Both cultures emphasize balance and harmony, this is reflected within the chairs. Both in the chairs’ entirety, as well as within each element.