Postmodern and challenging. Playful experiments with construction and materials. Bukowskis presents a collection of five pieces of furniture designed by the Icelandic designer Sigurdur Gustafsson for Källemo.
Gustafsson’s childhood in northern Iceland was shaped by carpentry and boatbuilding. His father ran a carpentry workshop, and a boatyard was located right next door. The workshop and the boatyard’s scrapyard soon became important settings for his unbridled imagination and creative drive. After seven years of studying architecture and design in Denmark and Norway, Gustafsson began working at an architectural firm in
Gothenburg. In 1995, he established his own architectural practice in Iceland, incorporating furniture design into his work. Gustafsson’s collaboration with the furniture manufacturer Källemo in Värnamo began in 1997; founder Sven Lundh notes, "Sigurdur is affiliated with us for as long as he wishes, and we enjoy working together."
Gustafsson approaches materials with a relaxed, open-minded attitude, whether working with plastic, wood, stainless steel, hemp, or plywood. In his work, color and form converge through a playful, constructive process. Dance has often served as a source of inspiration—evident, for instance, in his early, acclaimed "Tango" chair. Ash wood is a material for which Gustafsson holds a particular fondness: "It conveys such a solid, powerful expression, yet it is also incredibly challenging to work with." The tall, slender "Twist" bookcase—suspended within a red steel frame—showcases the beautifully grained surface of the ash wood with striking clarity. "Twist" was produced in very limited numbers, making this sale a rare opportunity to acquire the model. In addition to the aforementioned cabinet and chair, the selection includes the golden throne "A’EKI," as well as the "Wind" armchair and "Keflavik" sofa—pieces whose design language and choice of materials evoke a boatyard scrapyard.
Sigurður Gústafsson at Contemporary Art & Design
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