Wilkinson & Rivera present Of Nature, four one-off chair designs that are the beginning of a larger body of work. Initially inspired by “Verb List”, an artwork from 1967 by the radical American sculptor Richard Serra. Serra’s Verb List is a handwritten compilation of what he called “actions to relate to oneself, material, place, and process.”
The four chair designs are addressed by Wilkinson & Rivera as actions. Titled Puffed, Wilted, Whipped, and Rippled, each design is made from a different wood and touches upon traditional woodworking processes: steam-bending, hand turning, carving, and hand-cut joinery. The duo uses these processes to manipulate the wood in a way that progresses what’s expected of timber furniture.
Puffed: a soft design rounded by hand, giving a cushioned feel to a rigid material. Made from Spalted Beech.
Wilted: a design indicative of nature’s organic forms, achieved by soaking green timber then steam-bending it to shape. Made from London Plane.
Whipped: a carved design, inspired by shapes prevalent in ceramics, prompting nostalgia of childhood treats. Made from Yew.
Rippled: a flowing design with features that have been quartered and reconfigured, which embodies the deconstruction of the rigid qualities of timber. Made from Rippled Maple.
