Sunzen was born of an independent studio project, where I chose to design a chair based upon a phenomenon that struck my attention. Sunzen recognizes that there are often two sides to every story, person, or phenomenon. Aokigahara Forest in Japan is a place of mystery and tragedy. Nicknamed “suicide forest”, this location has the highest suicide rates on Earth. I wondered why this was occurring at this location, and delved into the subject. How could this phenomenon be embodied in form, and how could I try to represent the complexity behind it? This chair draws inspiration not only from Aokigahara, but from some of the beautiful traditions of Japan as well. Formal, informal, it represents the duality of the forest, the duality of Japanese culture, and the duality within each of us.
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