Set of Eight 'Kodustuhl (Kodu Chairs)', 2004

Interaction has long been the theme of Austrian artist Franz West’s work. Since creating his first set of chairs in the 1980s, West has called for viewers to sit and linger with their surroundings. As part of his Kodu-Stuhle series, the dining room chair continues this idea of interaction. It was not until the 1990s that West began to question the sitter’s physical experience. He welded together his first chairs using scrap metal, leaving much to be desired concerning comfort. West wanted viewers of his sculptural works to contemplate the art and exercise the mind, which he believed could only be achieved in a state of relaxation. The chairs (and those sitting in them) thus became an essential aspect of the artwork they were viewing. By the time he started producing the Kodu-Stuhles, West had added foam lining for comfort and upholstery to invigorate the mind. He created an edition of 500 Kodu chairs, with most featuring stimulating combinations of colorful African-inspired fabrics designed and manufactured in Holland. The mismatched backrest and seat are a unique signature of the series. The dining chairs in this collection are from the latter end of West’s Kodu series, which was in production between 1999 and 2005.