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TEN: BEYOND THE BEETLE

OCA CHAIR

By Arthur Arbesser

OCA CHAIR

 

In the ‘Oca Chair’, fashion designer Arthur Arbesser pays homage to the late master of Italian design, Enzo Mari. Arbesser has transformed the seat and backrest of the Beetle into the snapping bill of a goose, while the base references Mari’s cement panettone dispersed all over the Milan cityscape. In collaboration with Italian artisan Alan Zinchi, Arbesser has crafted the Oca in solid wood, with an original Beetle seat upholstered in bright orange fabric.

“The Beetle Chair’s origin and name come from an animal, so I also wanted to look to nature for my interpretation. I tried to understand what I could see in the shape of the Beetle and, from the second I started focussing, all I could see was an open beak, and Enzo Mari’s famous goose profile came to my mind, together with an idea of pop art in a lighter, more playful design language. The most successful ideas are often made of very few – almost obvious – yet new thoughts and combinations.”

 

– Arthur Arbesser

ARTHUR ARBESSER

FASHION DESIGNER, MILAN

 

Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, Arthur Arbesser studied at Central Saint Martin’s College in London, and now calls Milan home. Shortly after graduating, he was hired by Giorgio Armani and worked alongside him for seven years before launching his own signature womenswear brand in January 2013. His work, which he describes as ‘sophisticated yet bursting with energy’ is strongly influenced by Vienna’s history and culture. In 2015 he became an LVMH Prize finalist and today designs for his own brand as well as being creative director of Italian label Fay. He is frequently described as one of the most promising young designers in fashion today.

“Referencing two projects from the master of Italian design Enzo Mari, Arthur Arbesser revolutionizes their function and alters their dimensions to create an irresistible seat, full of charisma. Oca Chair is a sculptural piece in which the historical references propel the Beetle Chair towards the classics – a journey in which the traveling companions are time and irony.”

 

- Marco Sammicheli, curator, TEN: Beyond the Beetle

TEN: BEYOND THE BEETLE


GUBI SALONE 2023’s landmark exhibition showcases 10 creative responses to a modern design icon.