Self-Sustaining Chair

There is a great interview with Joo Youn Paaek on Rhizome that you guys should take a peak at. I had the pleasure of meeting Joo Youn this summer when I hosted texChange at Machine Projects.

Her work derives from observations of our everyday interactions with objects, environment and even each other. Joo Youn has the capability of translating even the most banal activities of our everyday lives, such as walking down an urban street, into a poetic commentary on how we live.

Much of her work is "wearable" or uses techniques and methodologies derived from the current investigations around wearable technologies. But instead of focusing on utility, her work is rife with cultural and social commentary.

Here's a bit of the interview:

I can see a similar interest in modifying and improving everyday city life in Self-Sustainable Chair, which is also controlled by the user, yet is far more absurdist in conceit.

With this piece, I was also inspired by New York and walking in the city. I was getting sick and tired of walking the same commute route from my station stop to my home every day while carrying a heavy backpack. I wanted to make something that could make every walk I take more meaningful. The idea was very abstract, so I began to add up the days and minutes of my commute time. My walk ended up being almost fifteen full days per year. That time should be more exciting, so I made this chair. I thought that each step could generate some energy, which can then transform into something else.

Read the rest here.

Via Rhizome.org