HK lounge chair 2011

This is Harri Koskinen’s HK lounge chair, hanging out here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I love how Koskinen uses such simple materials to create something that feels so considered. It’s all about the wood, and how it's been coaxed and bent. The surface of the chair has a cool, almost tactile quality. You can practically feel the smoothness of the wood. I like how the legs are doing their own thing, angled just so, not quite matching but somehow feeling like they belong. There’s a lot of negative space happening here too. The seat almost floats above the legs, and that little gap makes the whole thing feel lighter, more playful. It reminds me a little of Alvar Aalto, that same Scandinavian vibe, but with its own quirky personality. Ultimately, this chair is a reminder that even in the simplest forms, there’s room for expression and a conversation with art history.