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The Xlounge by American artist/designer Mark Wentzel.
The
conceptual weight of a design and the consumption of American culture
are the focus of "XLounge" by Mark Wentzel. Wentzel explores the
masterful design of the Eames Lounge Chair and it's significance
today. His interest in the design revolves around the gap between the
public's endearment for old products and it's commitment to
increasingly transitory "cutting edge" products. Wentzel believes this
gap to be fertile ground for creative expression. XLounge takes on the
responsibilities of it's time of creation, as Wentzel states all works
should, by relying on the ingeniousness of the sleek Eames Lounge Chair
design while displaying the disproportionate consumption of Americans.
Xlounge was shown at Project 4 Gallery's (Washington DC) Useless exhibition.
The Washington Post interviewed Mark and asked him this question about his work.
Why is your chair obese?
"The piece is obviously about
consumption. It gives the opportunity to a particular viewer to grab
their stomach and say, "Wow. That's me." I felt that this Eames chair
was a crucial part of American iconography -- I think it really
resonates with a wide range of people. And the standard structure of
the Eames lounger was conducive to expanding its upholstery. I thought
of using a La-Z-Boy. But you can't easily make a La-Z-Boy any fatter
than it is. You can just make it bigger."
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