The Third Eye’s Cressida Abela visited the Malta Design week held in Fort St. Elmo between the 17th and the 24th of May. With particular interest in the Panton Chair, she had the opportunity of meeting Patrizia Bartolini, representative from VITRA, the company in charge of creating this magnificent work of art.
Probably, not much thought is given on the chairs we sit on from day to day. We just look for a seat to sit down when our legs feel tired or when we feel lazy. Verner Panton, the founder of Panton Chair, as his name suggests, debuted his creative idea during the 1960s and 1970s. At a time when plastic had just passed the stages of experiment and was being incorporated in manufacture, Panton created this work of art. With VITRA as the manufacturer, the first chair was produced in 1967.
As Ms. Bartolini explains, throughout the years, the chair has not evolved much except in terms of design. The material developed to make it more affordable. The chair is not an exclusive available only to the elite few. “It’s a chair of everyone and everywhere, even the beach.”For the curious observer, yes, the chair is comfortable and durable.
Although the classic design of the chair pays tribute to the creator, Vitra seeks new talent from various countries. With the aim of promoting architecture and design, various competitions are held in various countries asking designers to design their own concept of the Panton. Malta is no exception. Many talented artists finalized their designs through various pencil strokes. Via eliminations, six finalists showcased their designs at Malta Design Week. Ms. Bartolini admits that unfortunately, it is difficult to judge interpretation of the artist. Hence, it made the elimination process more challenging.
The chosen winner is Sashanne Micallef, currently enrolled in the Diploma for Foundation Design. When asked about the motivation and concept behind the design, Sashanne explains that her main aim was to make the Panton chair “even more comfortable.” After evaluating a number of options she chose "The Cushion.’ Why "The Cushion?’ “It mixes classic with contemporary effectively. In addition the design gives an elegant look to the Panton chair and therefore may be an option for many who see the Panton chair as too contemporary for their tastes and needs.”
The Panton chair at Malta Design Week also celebrated the "Miniature 100 collection’ – a magnificent exhibit of 100 chair designs from various designers of modern art.
While one of the earliest models the Panton stands gracefully at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Ms. Bartolini explains how like many other forms of art, “you never know what makes a classic. You do not know what will be successful. All you need to do is believe in what you are doing.”
While the Panton chair has been expressed as the icon of the twentieth century, it lives on, not just in museums but as a timeless classic.
While wishing Sashanne Micallef all the best for her future studies, we look forward to seeing more of her designs. Third Eye would like to thank Patrizia Bartolini from VITRA for her time for the interview and also DEX Malta for their assistance.
Panton Chair Classic & Heart Cone Chair verner-panton.tagwerc.com
The Cushion: DEX Workspaces Official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DexWorkspaces?fref=ts
Wiggle Side Chair / Zigzag & Consumer’s Rest:www.design-museum.de
