SCULPTURES THE

In the city, Sven-Harrys konstmuseum invited designers Magnus Elebäck and Chris Martin, founders of furniture company Massproductions, to curate a playful exhibition examining the connection between industry and art while honing in on that mysterious “X-factor” – the element that makes good design great.

Through the exhibition, named ‘Sculptures from the Factory’, Elebäck and Martin wanted to go a step further than simply displaying design objects, instead revealing the industrial manufacturing processes behind them through a poetic and modern interpretation.

The result was a playful and engaging experience of design and manufacturing which showed the complexity of how designed products are made through industry.

The exhibition explored exactly what makes up ‘good’ design, demonstrating Massproductions’ consistent prioritisation of quality and sustainability. The studio takes a ‘slow’ approach to producing their furniture, ensuring they use the best material in the most energyefficient way possible. The exhibition included their steel Tio Chair, which uses minimal material to create a durable and versatile product, and the Rose Chair, made entirely of wood and without any screws or metal fittings.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ROSE CHAIR COMPONENTS SUSPENDED FROM CEILING / ROSE CHAIR MOLD / CROWN CHAIR INSTALLATION / TIO CHAIR MATERIAL

In 2009 two designers, Magnus Elebäck and Chris Martin sharing a neo-modernist vision of functional, elegant design, decided to break free of contemporary product strategies to create a furniture brand focusing on the interplay between object and context.

To realise their vision, they assumed control of the entire production chain – manufacturing, sales and marketing. The approach paid off, not only in design clarity, but also in distinguished awards, renowned clients and representation in the permanent collection of the Swedish National Museum of Arts. At Stockholm Design Week they collaborated with Sven Harrys konstmuseum presenting the exhibition ‘Sculptures from the Factory’.

Your exhibition for Sven-Harrys konstmuseum during Stockholm Design Week was curated partly to explore the link between ‘industry’ and ‘art’. How do you see the relationship between industry and art evolving in furniture design?

Chris and I believe strongly that great design comes from the cross-breeding industry and art. The “art part” adds long-lasting cultural values and justifies the development of yet another piece of furniture. Today though, we see the link between industry and art disappearing more and more. It seems like furniture producers prefer combining industry and sales or industry and marketing when they develop products. That way of thinking will never generate future design classics.

The exhibition provided visitors with a clear, visual and transparent education on furniture production. How important is it for you to create greater transparency and better understanding of manufacturing as well as design processes?

Customers today are clearly much more concerned about how and where products are made, and rightly so. At Massproductions we’re trying hard to be transparent when it comes to our production. With the exhibition we aim to take the general public behind the scenes and create an understanding of the work and processes that goes into creating everyday objects. And in the long run create another level of appreciation for the object.

For you, what defines that ‘X-Factor’ of great design that you explored through the exhibition?

It’s very hard to put the finger on why some products get forgotten about, and some products turn into design classics. But there’s definitely something to do with that mysterious element. Design is a lot about handling data. To make a good product you need to tick many boxes (function, production, ecology, ethical aspects etc). To make a GREAT product you need to add that extra layer, the ‘X-factor’.

You chose to display the products in question in an especially playful and imaginative way. Does this ring true with your own design process?

We did have a lot of fun creating these installations. And yes, I do think they reflect our working process. Chris is obviously a brilliant designer, a true specialist and I’m more of a generalist. We believe that the dialogue between designer and producer is key to producing great products. This was the core idea when starting Massproductions, and we’re staying true to it.

The materials and processes shown in the exhibition spoke to the importance of designing sustainability into products from their conception. How do you - and how can other designers - work to do this?

Sustainability is one of the hygiene factors when developing a product. As a producer you just need to have full control over what you are doing in this area. Knowing the industrial processes and materials is a must when creating sustainable products. And of course, don’t forget the x-factor. A loved and cherished product is the most sustainable product.