Shiro Kuramata

SHIRO KURAMATA (Tokyo, 1934–1991) for Cappellini
“Solaris” chest of drawers, designed in 1977.
“Progetti Compiuti” collection, model PC_8.
Black-stained ash wood, metal legs with an aluminum-colored finish, and black-lacquered metal handles.
In good condition. Shows slight signs of use and a small localized chip.
Reference: Deyan Sudjic, Shiro Kuramata: Catalogue of Works, Phaidon, London, 2013, p. 302, no. 204.
Measurements: 154 x 140 x 80 cm.

Designed in 1977, “Solaris” is one of the most distinctive creations by Shiro Kuramata, a key figure in contemporary Japanese design, whose work transformed the traditional conception of furniture through experimentation with proportions, materials, and spatial perception. Originally conceived under the name “Furniture on Four Legs,” the piece was later renamed “Solaris,” in reference to Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1972 film of the same name, whose themes related to memory, dreams, and the subconscious found particular resonance in the designer’s creative universe.

The chest of drawers features a rectangular body articulated by 28 drawers arranged in four rows that form a rigorous geometric grid. This compact volume, crafted from black-stained wood, rises on four slender cylindrical legs with a metallic finish, creating a striking contrast between the solidity of the upper body and the visual lightness of the base. The deliberately unbalanced proportions create a sense of suspension, characteristic of Kuramata’s interest in challenging the structural conventions of furniture.

The design was initially produced in Japan by Ishimaru Co. Ltd., before being added to the catalog of the Italian firm Cappellini, which acquired the production rights in 1985. The model is part of the “Progetti Compiuti” collection and is represented in institutional collections, notably with an example held in the collections of the CID – Grand-Hornu in Belgium.

Shiro Kuramata was one of the most influential Japanese designers of the second half of the 20th century. Trained at the Kuwasawa Design Institute, he established his own studio in Tokyo in 1965 and participated in the Memphis movement beginning in 1981, alongside Ettore Sottsass. His work is distinguished by a poetic and experimental approach to design, embodied in iconic pieces such as “Glass Chair” (1976), “How High the Moon” (1986), and “Miss Blanche” (1988). He received the French Order of Arts and Letters in 1990. His work is represented in institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Vitra Design Museum. Between 2023 and 2024, a comprehensive retrospective of his career, titled “The Work of Shiro Kuramata: A Microcosmos of Memory,” toured major Japanese museums, including the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto.