Rasmus B. Fex — Maestro
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
The Maestro chair by Rasmus Fex draws inspiration from musical experiences, where pause is as important as tone. Expressing a deeper bass tone through the use of oversized, blackened Douglas pine planks, the chair combines structure and functionality through the repeated straight timber elements that form the legs and seating section. The chair is finished in a thin steel top note, with a leather finish providing texture and warmth. Completing its powerful presence through the interplay of positive and negative space, the chairs silhouette is reminiscent of a maestro’s tuxedo – complete with a flowing split tail.
Made in collaboration with PLEASE WAIT to be SEATED.
Material and dimensions:
Douglas pine, steel, leather.
65 x 57 x 46cm.
Year:
2021
PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
Anders Sune Berg
VIDEOGRAPHY BY:
Benjamin Lund
LONG DESCRIPTION:
As with all of Rasmus Fex’s projects, Maestro began as a series of tests and experiments into form. Built up through iteration; addition and subtraction of elements, the form of the chair oscillated be-tween sculpture and functional object throughout the process, with Fex trying to find the fine balance that ignites his curiosity in both. Inspired by the ability of music experiences to elicit a variety of emotions, Maestro started out as a self-titled ‘skinny maestro’ with Fex aiming to instill as much character into the chair with as little material as possible. As the form built up over time, the slim frame required a seating element to bring function to the piece, with a series of solid Douglas pine elements added to the metal structure. As these elements started to interrupt the thin profile, the bold forms began to give a stronger presence to the piece, playing with positive and negative space to provide the chair with a graphic expression. While the final piece presents a powerful simplicity and strong character, a single remnant of its past life remains through the thin metal top frame which once characterized the ‘skinny maestro’ within.
DESIGNER BIO:
Rasmus Bækkel Fex
Furniture Artist, born 1981.
Utilising well-known furniture archetypes as his building blocks, the work of Rasmus Fex constantly challenges and questions existing methods and structures through objects that sit between art and design. Working from his workshop in Helsingør, his process is almost exclusively hands-on – from sketching to creating dozens of 1:5 scale models, replicated into dozens more full-scale timber mockups for each project. This fast-paced prototyping is the backbone of an explorative practice that is constantly seeking new ways of seeing age old design problems. Visually and functionally he pulls apart classic design motifs, questioning wrong and right ways to construct and use furniture. Once broken down, Fex can then build back up his design language with new eyes, carefully re-in- stating function into each object as to not disrupt the sculptural and conceptual qualities brought about through the design process. Combined with natural materials or black finishing, he uses colour in a sparse and strategic manner, highlighting the design and construction elements of each project.
EDUCATION:
2012: MA, Furniture Design, The Royal Academy, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2009: Furniture Design, Konstfack, Stockholm, Sweden.
GRANTS AND HONOURS:
2018: Project Grant, The Danish Arts Foundation, Denmark.
2015: Project Grant, The Danish Arts Foundation, Denmark.
2014: Furniture of the Year, Boligmagasinerne’s Design Awards, Denmark.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2022: Solo Exhibition, Chair, unriddle me! Bygning A, Copenhagen, Denmark
2022: Solo Exhibition, Benchmark, Augustiana, Sønderborg, Denmark
2021: Group Exhibition, News Value, Peach Corner, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
2021: Group Exhibition, The Magic of Form, Kunsten, Aalborg, Denmark.
2020: Solo Exhibition, Tingsted, Trapholt, Kolding, Denmark.
2020: Group Exhibition, Light Hope, Trapholt, Kolding, Denmark.
2019: Group Exhibition, Denmarks Next Classic, Design Museum Denmark.
2019: Group Exhibition, Chair Project, Spøttrup Catsle, Spøttrup, Denmark.
2018: Group Exhibition, Wilhelm Wagenfeld Foundation, Bremen, Germany.
2018: Group Exhibiton, The Danish Embassy, Berlin, Germany.
2017: Group Exhibition, The Spring Exhibition, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2016: Collaborative Exhibition with Margrethe Odgaard, Rite-Rite, Röhsska Museum, Göteborg, Sweden.
2014: Group Exhibition, Crafts Collection 18, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2014: Group Exhibition, RE F O R M Design Biennale, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2013: Group Exhibition, Mindcraft 13, Milan, Italy.
2012: Group Exhibition, The Cabinetmakers Autumn Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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