Dezeen Magazine

Roche Bobois' Mah Jong sofa shown in new movie and reinterpreted for charity auction

Dezeen promotion: French furniture brand Roche Bobois has produced a movie featuring its Mah Jong sofa, which has been reinterpreted by a group of artists for a charity auction (+ movie).

Mah-Jong by Roche Bobois
The Mah Jong sofa was originally created by Hans Hoper in 1971

The movie, which was shot at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, features women dressed like synchronised swimmers playfully rearranging segments of the modular Mah Jong sofa into the shape of a swimming pool.

Mah-Jong by Roche Bobois
Cushions are hand-stitched with a method similar to that of mattress-making

The pieces join together to form a colourful collage of cushions. Some of the swimmers jump from a diving board made out of stacked tables, while others lounge on the cushions.

Mah-Jong by Roche Bobois
Three basic elements can be stacked, aligned with each other and grouped in different ways allowing for a variety of layouts

Orignally designed by Hans Hoper in 1971, Roche Bobois' Mah Jong range has three basic elements that can be stacked, aligned with each other and grouped in different ways allowing for a variety of layouts. The sofa can be used as an armchair, sofa, lounge chair or bed.

Mah Jong is handmade in Italy using processes similar to those of the Haute Couture fashion industry. Cushions are hand-stitched with a method similar to that of mattress-making.

Mah-Jong by Roche Bobois
Roche Bobois has previously opened the Mah Jong up to interpretations by different designers. Designer Jean Paul Gaultier's version of the Mah Jong features sailor-style stripes

This year, Roche Bobois asked eight artists chosen by magazine ArtReview to reinterpret the sofa for an exhibition and auction called 8 x 8 Mah Jong Re-imagined.

Mah-Jong by Roche Bobois
Sonia Rykiel's version featured bold stripes

"This is a wonderfully exciting project that celebrates creative expression and individuality," said Roche Bobois creative director Nicolas Roche. "It's been fascinating to see the variety of approaches and ideas to come from such a talented group of artists."

Mah-Jong by Roche Bobois
Missoni Home covered the seat in their iconic zigzag stripe patterns

The London-based artists include Pio Abad, who has previously designed silk scarves and wallpaper, and Larry Achiampong, who works with visual archives, live performance and sound.

Mah-Jong by Roche Bobois
Mah Jong sofa dressed by Jean Paul Gautier

Cornelia Baltes studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and uses imagery from the everyday, experimenting with the boundaries of painting, photography, sculpture and installation.

Pio Abad
Study for a grotto by Pio Abad

RCA-graduate George Eksts alters the perceptions of space, duration and time, while Patrizio Di Massimo combines collaged and re-edited video, photography, sculpture, drawing and printmaking.

Lauren Godfrey, Peter Liversidge and Joby Williamson have also designed covers for the sofas.

Larry Achiampong
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-chcherrybomb by Larry Achiampong

The completed works will be exhibited at Roche Bobois' London showroom in Chelsea from 5 to 10 April, and then auctioned at The Great Hall at St Bartholomew's in London on 21 April 2016.

Prebids can be made at the exhibition and the auction will raise money for Vital Arts and Gasworks gallery and studios.

Partizio Dimassimo
Finger crossed, Legs uncrosses by Partizio Di Massimo

Vital Arts delivers art projects for the well-being of patients, staff and the wider hospital community at Barts Health NHS Trust while Gasworks gallery and studios, operates a programme of exhibition opportunities, studio spaces and residencies for early-career London-based and international artists.

For more information visit the Roche Bobois website.

www.roche-bobois.com