Discourse - INTROSPECTION SEAT 001

This Spring, multi-disciplinary creative Anna Pesonen unveils DISCOURSE - a limited-edition capsule of collectible, functional marble sculptures traversing the boundary of art and design. Known primarily for her work as an image director and stylist, the launch marks Pesonen’s debut into the world of sculpture.

Handmade by Pesonen and local artisans, the marble works invite sitters into discourse, commanding a metaphysical atmosphere of presence and peace which surrounds sitters when occupied.

"For my first works in marble the starting point was to create sculptures which not only come with a function for the everyday but go beyond that and propose a non-material quality — the works reflect on the challenges our global community faces — the effects of intensification of divisive politics, misinformation media, growing separation — and propose sculpture as a vehicle and site for introspection and discourse as counteragent."

Handmade in Italy over a two year period from Carrara Marble, the form nods to both modernism and brutalism. Pesonen comments “The works are related to concepts of liminality, disconnection, the solidarity generation, solastalgia, identity & community. My hope is that the seats invite us into discourse - with ourselves as well as with other individuals, groups or ideologies.”

The first in the series, the single form 'INTROSPECTION SEAT 001', compels self-reflection, free from distraction and judgement. The seat function as a real-world ‘journal’, a site for improving one’s relationship with one’s self and therefore in our communities.

The 'DIALOGUE SEAT 002' functions in tandem — as two seats are connected side by side, they create a confidential shared moment for the two sitters, a feeling of unity despite facing different directions. The chair silently and solidly commands the sitters to do nothing more than sit, together, face to face and as Pesonen says “to confer, to find solutions, to recognise the human in one another.”

Shot through her signature editorial lens featuring model Ottawa Kwami, Pesonen stages the works in dialogue with one another and their origin; the marble quarry at the top of the Apuan Alps, northwest Italy.

Sound design by Mika Vainio.