Motspråk cuts plywood painting and builds it into a chair
Designer Eitil Arbenz Thorén introduces Motspråk, transforming a spruce plywood painting into a chair through cutting and assembly.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Motspråk cuts a spruce plywood painting apart to rebuild it as a chair
- Natural knots and irregularities on the wood become part of the artwork
- The project combines initial artistic concepts with the material's properties
The design project Motspråk has transformed a painted spruce plywood surface by cutting it apart and reassembling the pieces into a functional chair. Rather than treating the plywood as a neutral backdrop, the project allows the natural grain, layers, and inherent flaws of the wood to directly contribute to the final visual character of the piece.
Throughout the creation process, knots and irregularities found within the spruce are integrated as bodily marks, scars, or eyes. These natural features actively influence how the painted composition develops on the surface, ensuring that the material itself shapes the artistic outcome.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The method merges an initial artistic vision by designer Eitil Arbenz Thorén with the physical characteristics of the wood and the specific context of the project. By shaping and reorganizing the plywood through precise cutting and assembly, the distinct traits of the spruce inform both the painted finish and the final form of the chair.
This material-driven approach highlights a growing trend in contemporary design where raw, unpolished industrial materials are repurposed into high-concept art and furniture. By celebrating the imperfections of wood grains rather than concealing them, designers challenge conventional manufacturing norms and create truly unique narrative objects.
Source: designboom
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