Images Lamana PH
For many, a humble stool, but behind its utilitarian looks, a product of resiliency and the power of collaboration. Such is the story of the Ishinomaki Stool by Japanese architect and designer, Keiji Ishizawa, who designed the piece for Ishinomaki Laboratory, a public furniture workshop mobilized by community volunteers amidst the ruins left by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
The stool was designed for ease of construction and optimal use, out of simple materials and basic crafting tools; it was a product built to quickly serve a community in need. Ten years after, the DIY spirit espoused by the Ishinomaki initiative lives on: The Ishinomaki Stool found itself on hallowed ground, joining other iconic design pieces at the V&A Museum’s permanent collection back in 2015. The Ishinomaki initiative has also expanded beyond its community, becoming the world’s first DIY label. It has sprung roots in various parts of the world, with Lamana serving as Ishinomaki Laboratory’s Philippine partner.
It is poignant for something born out of a disaster to be made to serve a cause that helps prevent a greater cataclysm. For its tenth year, the Ishinomaki stool becomes a canvas for ten noted Filipino artists and designers to express their creativity, elevating the stool from a functional object to a work of art. In partnership with Salcedo Auctions, the resulting objets d’art will then be auctioned off, with proceeds from the sale to benefit the conservation efforts of Masungi Georeserve, a multi-awarded conservation area, and geopark in Baras, Rizal.
Get to meet the talented creators behind these one-of-a-kind Ishinomaki Stools below:
The Artists
Jason Buensalido, Continuum
Believing that design and architecture are a response to context, architect Jason Buensalido wants his designs to be forward-looking. Knowing about the story of Ishinomaki Laboratory has allowed him to appreciate and understand the simplicity of the products. Ten years on from the devastating tsunami, Buensalido wanted to illustrate, with free form plywood, the bright future ahead with buoyant, undulating forms
Carl Jan Cruz, Untitled
Fashion designer Carl Jan Cruz’s aesthetic is a harmonious mix of contemporary lines and nostalgic elements. His design marries the idea of tradition with innovation, via unusual compositions and finishes. Cruz worked with Therese Regalado of ware-co to darken the finish of the stool to complement his rib gabao fabric. He then created a cushion made out of a gel-like foam finished in his distinctive stitching style.
Fitz Herrera, Different But The Same
Influenced by music, Fitz Herrera is known for his abstract impasto work. Herrera wanted the stool to represent the Earth and the acrylic paint to represent all of us. “We are all different by race and color of skin but we are all human beings on one small planet.”
Gabriel Lichauco, Corner Store
Aiming to keep the Ishinomaki Stool’s design as pure as possible while injecting subtle references to local craft, designer Gabriel Lichauco worked with E.Murio to add natural, handcrafted elements to the stool. Torched and curved rattan embellish the legs, blurring the line between Japanese and Filipino design. The seat of the stool also underwent a torched finish, resembling the common seat one finds at a neighborhood corner store.
Blok Magnaye, Caïssa
Illustrator Blok Magnaye, whose clients include Facebook, Apple, The Atlantic, and The Guardian, wanted to preserve the Ishinomaki Stool’s iconic form while also wanting the object to transcend its conventional use. Painting a chessboard on the stool’s seat in Magnaye’s usual bold color palette, the stool is no longer just a seat but a hub of activity. A complete set of handmade, hand-painted wooden chess pieces is included.
Lilianna Manahan, Le Copain
Meaning “friend or buddy”, Le Copain focuses on the value of friends especially in times of crisis. Manahan put two wood types, teak and larch, together in their natural finish to create the stool. The Le Copain figure is made of casted brass and sits atop the stool as a reminder that no matter the situation, someone is there for you.
Leeroy New, Toad Stool
Known for his super-sized assemblage sculptures—the incorporation of everyday objects into art—New utilizes this trademark technique with the Ishinomaki Stool. He uses metal, paint, and fiberglass rods to create a spinning mushroom-like canopy over the stool.
Eric Paras, Cavoo
Inspired by his hairless Xolo dog named Cavoo who kept him company during the pandemic lockdowns, interior and furniture designer Eric Paras transformed the Ishinomaki Stool into a fun, four-legged companion. Its head is made of metal that will oxidize over time.
Ryan Villamael, ‘frag-mənts’
Lifting his nickname ‘Cut Felt’ from his first solo exhibit ten years ago, artist Ryan Villamael wanted to emphasize the craftsmanship of the Ishinomaki Stool while injecting his papercutting roots. Using patches of felt offcuts collected throughout years of the artist’s material manipulation, the stool gains a colorful and tactile makeover.
Paloma Urquijo Zobel, Untitled
Seeing parallelism between the storytelling power of the Ishinomaki Stool and how weaving can also tell stories, PIOPIO’s founder Paloma Urquijo Zobel created a reversible cushion for the stool with the help of different communities around the country. One side is a colorful patchwork of custom weaves, and the other side a more muted color of inabel. A vulnerable community in Mindoro hit hard by the lockdowns of the pandemic created friendship bracelets as a way to tie down the cushion onto the stool.
For interested bidders
The auction date is on November 27 at 2:00pm (live and online). To register as a bidder or view the pieces please contact Salcedo Auctions at info@salcedoauctions.com or 09171075581. Please send Lamana a message for special access as an online bidder for these particular pieces. The pieces are available for viewing starting November 12 up to the auction date.
This auction is co-presented by Bid for the Future (BFF), a social enterprise under Salcedo Auctions that harnesses the power of art to solve global challenges. No portion of the sale proceeds from this project will go towards Lamana. •
www.ishinomaki-lab.org
www.lamanaph.com
www.masungigeoreserve.com
www.saledoauctions.com
www.bidforthefuture.org
