Over the past couple of years, we’ve certainly seen our share of variations on the notion of the “Clear Chair.” These modulations on a theme have taken the form of a chair built around negative space, as in Chair Lajt, the Lolita Chair, and the Fade Out Chair and a chair created from a solid expanse of translucent material. Notables in this last category include work by Jean Charles de Castelbajac’s 25 Acrylic Chairs, Gordon International’s Green, and Kartell’s Ami Ami. Each of these has their own unique slant, but perhaps none better exemplify the concept than Viktor Harmen’s Clear Chair.

Clear Chair. Designed by Viktor Harmen.

You’ve got to admire the piece for its simplicity. Clear Chair is constructed of three elements: a matching set of thin acrylic trapezoids as the base and a single-piece seat and back element made of solid transparent acrylic with a handsome angular bend. Enumerate the rainbow of available colors that includes clear, amethyst purple, cherry red, golden yellow, emerald green, and of course a brilliant sapphire blue, and there’s not really much more to say about this particular piece.

Or so it would seem. But designer Harmens should be allowed to have his say (Harmens is Dutch, so in addition to already inhabiting a special place in my design aficionado’s heart, he has a typical way with words): “HAR’ in HARmens stands for ‘lucid other reality’ and ‘mens’ means human, so the HARmens is a human with a lucid other reality. This view results in designs with a broad image and a graphical character.” Not sure about that “lucid other reality business,” for I believe the Clear Chair is very much in the here and now, but as to the “broad image and graphical character,” that descriptor suits Clear Chair to a T.

Via Chairblog.