For the Zoetrope Bench for Rotterdam’s Vivid Gallery, four colours of silk were woven into a lustrous motif of strawberry plants with a striking depth of colour. When the bench turns around, the plants appear to grow through the seasons.
What began as a commission for the TextielMuseum in 2013 spawned a continuation in 2014. The designers of Studio Minale-Maeda looked for a way to reflect the tremendous variation in patterns they found in the museum’s collection. They drew a parallel with the time-lapse images of motion picture pioneer Eadweard Muybridge, and the circular Zoetrope Bench was born. The zoetrope device was used in the early days of film to create the illusion of movement from a rapid succession of still images. For Vivid Gallery, the designers chose the strawberry motif by William Morris, a figurehead of the Arts and Crafts Movement that flourished between 1860 and 1910.
The designers achieved the fabric’s rich look by weaving with silk. Ensuring the pattern followed the curve of the bench presented a challenge, making it necessary to weave the fabric in sections. The bench’s upholstery is adorned with subtly changing patterns to mimic the movement.
Rotterdam-based studio Minale-Maeda comprises Mario Minale (1973) and Kuniko Maeda (1976), both graduates of the Design Academy Eindhoven. Since 2006 they work between usable products and artistic statements. They see design founded in utilitarian needs but also an expression of culture. The worked with renowned companies such as Droog, Skitsch and Nodus. Onder andere het Centraal Museum Utrecht, Vitra Design Museum en TextielMuseum hebben werk van het duo in de collectie.
