Kwangho Lee’s Hunk lounge chair and Glyph side table extend a warm invitation
Kwangho Lee captured in his studio alongside the Glyph Alpha side table and Hunk lounge chair.
AN ARTIST AND DESIGNER hailing from South Korea, Kwangho Lee’s inaugural collaboration with the Swedish brand Hem has turned heads in the design world. It’s no wonder, considering the monolithic Hunk lounge chair and the sculpture-esque Glyph side table – two objects that are nearly impossible to ignore.
The inspiration behind the Hunk chair draws from Lee’s Obsession collection, where he crafted a lounge chair from PVC rope in 2010. The idea was to create a simple form that would evolve over time and use.
The idea was to create a simple form that would evolve over time and use.
While loosely emulating the exaggerated angular form of the PVC rope chair, the Hunk lounge chair distinguishes itself in its sharper profile, meticulously crafted seating comfort, and natural material choices.
Many of Kwangho Lee’s creations reside at the intersection of art and design. The light blue Hunk chair originates from an armchair woven from PVC rope.
Swedish brand Hem manufactures the Hunk chair in two versions: with armrests and without armrests.
This chair is upholstered in a light blue bouclé fabric, featuring an all-natural composition with padding made from natural latex, wool, and coconut fiber.
Kwangho Lee graduated as a designer from Seoul's Hongik University in 2007.
The Glyph side tables also find their roots in Lee’s previous works. Drawing inspiration from his New Armor series, influenced by armor from the Korean Joseon Dynasty, Lee reimagined pieces reminiscent of ancient armor into a new form.
According to Lee, the Glyph series eventually took on more of a hieroglyphic appearance than the form of armor. Named Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, each table in the collection has its unique shape with references to the Greek alphabet.
Crafted from powder-coated steel, the uniqueness of Glyph tables lies not only in their form but also in their flexibility. These sculptural tables don’t have a specific top or bottom – you can thus place them on the floor in almost any orientation.
The curved forms of the Glyph Alpha table are born from bent and lacquered steel. By turning the table around, it reveals a new facet of itself.
Lee describes his working method as repetitive: reaching the final version may demand numerous experiments and plenty of patience.
Lee’s design process always starts with materials, exploring their individual characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. Through this exploration, he gradually moves towards forms and proportions suitable for each specific purpose. Repetition is a crucial aspect of Lee’s work process, often requiring numerous prototypes and patient refinement to achieve the desired result.
The design process always starts with materials, exploring their individual characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.
A designer’s work demands constant envisioning, not only for the objects themselves but also for their surrounding environment. According to Lee, he envisioned his designs for Hem in a wide and hollow space with a small crowd amidst them. If it were a movie, it could be something reminiscent of Blade Runner or Ex Machina – a space where the past, present, and future converge.
Collaborating with Hem meant a new working method for Lee, who had mainly focused on art pieces and commissioned work. However, he feels that designing mass-produced furniture differed surprisingly little from his previous works.
In the studio’s kiln, metal objects are enameled using the traditional Korean chilbo technique.
A significant nod to Lee’s design career goes to his farmer grandfather, who crafted everyday items from whatever materials were at hand. Inspired by his grandfather’s craftsmanship, Kwangho Lee pursued studies in metal art and design at Seoul’s Hongik University.
While Lee’s ultra-modern furniture differs significantly from the rustic crafts of rural life, they share a common goal: the aspiration to look at everyday objects in a new light and create interpretations that reflect their own mental landscapes, freely blending various materials.
See also:
• Kwangho Lee’s designs >
• All Hem products >
Text: Nora Uotila Images: Jihoon Kang
Published on 1 Feb, 2024
