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Clemens Lauer

Based in Marseille and Karlsruhe.

Six Sinop Sandalye
2024

Reused poplar wood
6 pieces 45cm x 60 cm x 90 cm (varying)

In his project, Clemens Lauer draws inspiration from an unexpected discovery while exploring Sinop’s industrial area. A set of six massive chairs, crafted from stained poplar by a local master carpenter 20 years ago, stood abandoned in front of his workshop. Originally made as a custom order for a local café, these once-grand thrones had fallen out of fashion. They were returned by their owner, no longer useful to either him or the carpenter, who now considered using them as firewood.

From this point, the artist's project, Six Sinop Sandalye, takes shape. One of the six chairs is left untouched, honoring the craftsmanship and design of the original maker. The remaining five chairs are dismantled, transformed, and reassembled into new, contemporary seating pieces, partly carrying distinct elements of Sinop’s local culture. Traditional ornaments, the shape of improvised stairs, or forms mimicking boat jacks all become part of the new designs. This series highlights the transformation and renewal of material and meaning, where a story ends only to begin again. The project is a collaboration with local artisans, and one of the chairs is realized together with Yağmur Güzle, emphasizing the dialogue between tradition and reinvention.

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