In a brand-new documentary, Andrés Reisinger, a self-described “unclassifiable artist,” details the development of his famous Hortensia chair and explains how he went from a digital rendering to a physical creation.
In a 3D rendering of a soft seat that appeared to be covered in a cloud of pink petals, Reisinger unveiled his Hortensia chair in 2018. The chair was picked up by design press all over the world after the author uploaded the realistic CGI to his Instagram feed. Soon after, followers began requesting that he try to make the chair in reality.
Reisinger accepted the challenge and collaborated with fellow designer Jùlia Esqué to produce a limited-edition version of the Hortensia, despite its reputation as the “chair that cannot be made.”
He created a manufacturing process that involved the use of over 500 strips of laser-cut fabric, which were then grouped together and put together into a form resembling the original chair in order to recreate the fluffy pink covering, which was inspired by the light pink petals of hydrangea flowers.
Later, the chair was made available on the market by the Dutch company Moooi, who offered it in both the original pink and a light grey.
“Hortensia innovatively replicates the beauty of nature, whilst giving life to an experience enriched by both realms: digital and physical, a new future overwhelmed with possibilities and creative challenges.” he added.
The documentary, which was produced and directed by Maana, adopts a rather ethereal tone. The Hortensia chair tells the tale of its own transformation into a physical object, taking the audience through each phase as it does so. It delves deeper into Reisinger’s broader creative approach and examines the differences between the chair’s physical and digital manifestations while sprinkling some rather profound observations about our own realities throughout.
