Paper Tube Chair 2012

I imagine Manfred Kielnhofer constructing these two chairs with paper tubes, adhesives, and some sort of fabric to create a seating surface. You know, making art can be a bit like building a house of cards – you’re constantly adjusting, balancing, and hoping it doesn’t all collapse. I'm guessing Kielnhofer experimented quite a bit to get the first of these chairs, with the horizontally laid tubes, to hold its form. It's such a great idea to then apply a similar method with vertical tubes, and the fabric panels really soften the look. I can imagine him thinking: how can I push this material to its limit? What new shapes and forms can I create? It reminds me of other artists I know, like Sarah Sze, who creates these incredible, delicate structures from everyday materials. Each one explores the boundaries between stability and ephemerality. We artists are always looking at each other's work, drawing inspiration, and pushing each other to see things in new ways!