Caroline Chao is the next collaborator for the Art of Raw, G-STAR’s platform where emerging creatives explore the limitless potential of denim by transforming it into unique art objects. The architect and designer created a one-of-a-kind, conceptual chair made of deadstock denim, industrial byproducts, and vintage snap buttons. Inspired by the utilitarian legacy of denim and camping gear, this modular chair transcends the understanding of furniture. Reusing materials and challenging the extent of functionality. The chair will make its live debut at the art fair Collectible in New York.
Conceptual Utility
Originally trained as an architect, the Harvard graduate found skyscrapers to be too abstract to relate to, prompting her to shift her focus towards smaller, more intimate objects. Designing at a human scale allows her audiences to shape their individual perceptions of each object and to challenge what it might be. For Chao, interaction is key.
This philosophy is embodied in The Roll-Up Chair, a conceptual piece provoking us to reconsider our understanding of furniture. Inspired by collapsible camping and military gear, this chair can be fully disassembled, reassembled, or even hung on the wall. Constructed from industrial railing components, construction fasteners, vintage snap buttons, and padded rolls of deadstock denim, utility is at the core of this design– echoing G-STAR’s heritage shaped by the same design principles.
By using industrial byproducts and materials designed as workwear, the artist showcases that original meaning is always open to reinterpretation. The Roll-Up Chair explores the question: can furniture fold, roll, or hang—just how we might store a pair of jeans or a garment? Over time, it will also bear marks of use and memory, much like a favorite pair of jeans.
“I’m fascinated by the relationship between design and perception. How do we design spaces and objects that push the boundaries of what we think or what we think we know? For example, how can we rethink a chair?” – Caroline Chao
Architectural Approach
Chao is a highly intellectual spatial designer and interior architect, holding two Ivy League degrees. She began her creative journey in fine arts, later discovering a passion for architecture, which ultimately led her to the world of design. Extremely conceptual in her approach, Chao is also highly detail-oriented. The designer grounds each project in meticulous research and deep knowledge, crafting an overarching narrative for every piece. She is driven by her fascination with perception, and how humans interact with and respond to the objects around them. Seeking to understand our physical environment, she experiments with materials like glass, chrome, and mirrors. These elements allow her to manipulate light and reflection, creating experiences where perspective is quite literally distorted.
