Silla de Campo
Conceived as a conceptual work, this piece reinterprets Marcel Duchamp's work: “Bicycle Wheel”. The ready-made sculpture from 1913 presents the same elements that Blanco used to conceive his chair. On this occasion, he adds a telluric language, approaching the Argentine identity. In his words: “They are not chairs. They are a little more than chairs. The chair, I believe, was never just a chair and even more so since modern design focused on it. This is an operation that tries to link a theme, a classic element of design, with certain operational situations of art. In some cases they are formally similar, in others they are more conceptual and there are some specific reflections.”
- Authorship — Ricardo Blanco
- Object Type — Chair
- Material and Technique — Lapacho wood, aluminum and leather cord
- Measurements — 61 x 46 x 107 cm
- Origin — Argentina
- Dating — 2005
- Condition — Original
Ricardo Blanco
TRANSFORMATIVE DESIGN
An emblem of Argentine design, Ricardo Blanco (Buenos Aires, 1940-2017) revolutionized the concept of furniture with his playful and conceptual approach. He began his career as an architect at the University of Buenos Aires and continued as a designer from the sixties until he established himself as an undisputed figure in Argentine design.
He was a member of the National Academy of Fine Arts, where he made publications that promoted design as a major art form. He was also the curator of the design collection that is part of the Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires.
He transcended the borders of the country, projecting his creativity in pieces like the iconic Placa chair, which is part of the collection of the LACMA museum (Los Angeles) and MoMA (New York). His work is currently included in public and private collections such as the IDA Foundation, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, among others.
His work extended design beyond the utilitarian, venturing into utilitarian sculpture and conceptual design. Blanco not only left a legacy of innovation with his works but also through his educational and cultural commitment, sharing his knowledge as a teacher and curator, and contributing significantly to the training of future generations of designers in Argentina and Latin America.
