‘Modern African design is in a exceptional place proper now,’ says Mehdi Dakhli. By way of his furnishings, the designer, artistic marketing consultant, and curator goals to have fun North African tradition. ‘For me, it’s a manner of honouring a historical past that deserves higher recognition’, he explains. Working throughout Paris, London, and Tokyo, Dakhli has constructed a formidable portfolio of labor that blends Tunisian heritage with trendy artwork. His newest creation, the ‘Muravey Chair,’ displays this strategy, whereas fastidiously honouring his African roots.
The Muravey Chair is a reinterpretation of Dakhli’s earlier ‘Sidi Bou’ design, crafted from aluminium and Nero Marquina marble. Its putting skeletal backrest attracts inspiration from Wassily Kandinsky’s summary expressionist portray ‘Loses im Rot’. The Russian artist’s go to to Tunisia considerably impacted his artistic journey, prompting him to experiment extra with geometry, type, and abstraction. Dakhli seeks to focus on this affect via the form of the Muravey Chair. ‘My Tunisian heritage is a elementary a part of who I’m, and I take nice satisfaction in it.’
(Picture credit score: Marc Cocksedge)
(Picture credit score: Marc Cocksedge)
Produced from wooden, the Muravey Chair is a intelligent departure from Dakhli’s earlier initiatives just like the ‘Tana Lamp’ and ‘Almadies Console’, which make use of supplies comparable to metallic, marble, and concrete. ‘The chair is crafted from Wenge, a dense, hardwood native to Gabon and Cameroon, and upholstered in 100% wool material sourced from Holland,’ explains Dakhli. ‘Wooden is a fabric I deeply admire. Past its aesthetic attraction, it’s a pure materials that provides sturdiness and timelessness.’
Standing on three intricately sculpted legs, every hand-carved factor contributes to the chair’s distinctive design. ‘The backrest blends horizontally contained in the seat, transitioning into the rear leg, offering the chair stability’ explains Dakhli. In the meantime, the delicately stitched seat’s type mimics the form of an ant’s stomach, with its legs gracefully rising from both sides.
‘I like creating moments of uncertainty and curiosity, like when folks encounter my chair and aren’t positive if they will sit on it’ says Dakhli. ‘They query its power and luxury, and I discover nice satisfaction in witnessing their reduction after they uncover it’s each sturdy and comfy.’
(Picture credit score: Marc Cocksedge)
(Picture credit score: Marc Cocksedge)
Taking its title from the Russian phrase for ‘ant,’ The Muravey Chair can be a nod to the enduring ‘Ant Chair’ by Arne Jacobsen. The Danish architect’s design was created in 1952 for pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk. As a diabetic himself, Dakhli was moved by this. ‘Few folks know that this chair was initially designed for Novo Nordisk, the corporate that produces the insulin I depend on each day.’
By way of initiatives just like the Muravey Chair, Dakhli goals to create work that’s accessible but additionally has deeper meanings for individuals who take the time to interrogate it additional. ‘Whereas design is basically about aesthetics and performance, I all the time attempt to transcend that, including depth and narrative to make it actually compelling’ says the designer.
The Muravey Chair displays Dakhli’s dedication to celebrating North Africa via modern design. By merging Tunisian tradition with revolutionary craftsmanship, the chair not solely honours his heritage however helps to carry African design to the worldwide stage.
mehdidakhli.com
Supply: Wallpaper
