While there are many designs out there that look to replicate the iconic style of the Eames Chair, I'd bet that there aren't many doing it quite like Bora Hong. Her work always has some sort of cultural connection, and her recent design series, "Cosmetic Surgery Kingdom" is no exception. The cultural spin? Hong explores the aesthetic surgery trend in South Korea by recreating the classic Eames chair using parts of outdated chair designs. She showcases her design process in two videos, where she dons doctor's scrubs and a hospital mask for added effect:
The project is meant to draw a correlation between the goal of creating a younger and more beautiful self by means of cosmetic surgery and the way in which designers are also always trying to create "good design." Check out her second video, titled "Surgery for an Eames Chair":
Hong recently showed off her work at last week's Salone in Milan. She was a selected designer for a breakfast talk put on by the Design Academy Eindhoven for their "Self Unself" exhibition. The modified chairs are only one part of this project—she also created a thesis magazine and a "personal exploration into altering one's face" in the form of wearable, latex copies of other people's noses. She shares more information on the project on her website:
The thesis magazine catalogues key word themes from A to Z, which address issues such as advertisement in cosmetic surgery, the global standard of beauty, obsession and pain. Each key word is explored through photography, performance and surveys.
'Faces and Noses' is an experimental action on how we deal with desire for perfection, and what it means to design faces like we design objects. Hong asked strangers what surgery they would recommend she undertake. She then modified printed images of her face giving a visceral experience of cosmetic surgery. In 'Noses,' visitors can try latex copies of 30 people's noses from around the world, noting how much it changes appearance.
Check out more of Hong's work on her website.
Via Lustik
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