Philippe Starck

PHILIPPE STARCK (Paris, 1949) for Disform.
Wendy B" chair. 1980's.
Black steel frame.
Measurements: 75 x 48 x 47 cm.

The "Wendy Wright" chair (often referred to as "Wendy B") takes Starck's minimalism to the limit. Its design is austere and stylized, highlighted by the triple leg that supports a minimal seat, and whose openwork backrest is formed by the continuous line drawn by the rear leg. Entirely made of metal, which gives it a markedly industrial and monolithic character. "Wendy Wright" is a purely avant-garde object. Its beauty lies in its geometric purity and in the collision of its angular and curved shapes.

Wendy was born out of a collaboration between Starck and the Spanish publisher Disform, to create a series of furniture that became icons of postmodern design. Characterized by their structural simplicity, use of industrial materials and evocative names (many of them inspired by characters from Philip K. Dick's science fiction novel Ubik), these designs fuse minimalism with sculptural ingenuity. Standout pieces from this collaboration include "Miss Wirt," "Miss Dorn" and "Wendy B."

Starck is the son of André Starck, an aeronautical engineer who has often inspired Philippe's work. He studied at the École Nissim de Camondo in Paris. While working for Adidas, Starck created his first industrial design company, Starck Product, which he later renamed Ubik, after the Philip K. Dick novel, and began working with manufacturers in Italy (Driade), Alessi, Kartell and internationally, including Drimmer in Austria, Vitra in Switzerland and Disform in Spain. In 1983, then French President François Mitterrand, on the recommendation of his Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, chose Starck to renovate the president's private apartments at the Elysée Palace. The following year he designed the Café Costes. Starck's output expanded to include furniture, decoration, architecture, street furniture, industry (wind turbines, photo booths), sanitary ware, kitchens, floor and wall coverings, lighting, household appliances, office equipment such as staplers, utensils, tableware, clothing, accessories, toys, glassware, graphic design and publishing, food, and vehicles for land, sea, air and space.