The Soba Chair
The Soba Chair is not an African chair. It’s a derivative of South-West African chairs, in the most positive sense of the word derivative. It’s a chair conceived, built and designed in Northern Europe while still being a product of Black Imagination. It’s a design that I refer to as a Diasporic Design.
the chair is accesorized with the Soba Cloth
When I talk about Diasporic Design, or Diasporism, I talk about the design idea of incorporating history, locality and heritage in the age of multiculturalism. It’s maybe a collection of ideas rather than a certain style. Diasporism in design is a dialogue of heritage and design between separate settings, cultures and geographical areas.
Nikkei cuisine is a great example of Diasporism. The term Nikkei refers to Japanese people living outside of Japan. This term has been expanded to include the innovative cuisine that results when you merge traditional Peruvian ingredients and Japanese cuisine. It cuts deeper than “fusion”.
I made a booklet, a mindmap of sorts, to mediate the process and concepts behind the Soba Chair and the research incorporated in the design.
