Kepler-186f: A Fusion of Art and Furniture

Alexandr Strepetov's Award-Winning Design Marries Sculpture and Functionality

The design, named after the exoplanet Kepler-186f, is a result of Strepetov's fascination with developing a single idea through various techniques and materials. The armchair, part of a larger project, is a complex sculpture that doubles as a functional piece of furniture. Its design is inspired by plant ornamentation, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic details, and even carries a sense of being pregnant with creatures.

What sets Kepler-186f apart is its unique combination of natural forms and futuristic structures. The monolithic parts of the armchair synergistically combine with a naked skeleton structure, revealing the beauty of both the external and interior parts that are usually hidden. The armchair is not just an ordinary piece of furniture, but an object of art with a secret language, interpreted as a piece from another world, created by an alien mind.

The armchair is structurally composed of steel wire, with intersections wrapped with thinner wire and soldered with tin alloy. Decorative elements, along with armrests and legs, are hand-carved from solid oak and finished with a variety of paints and lacquers. The wooden seat cover is designed to be easily removed, while the material on the seat back is affixed.

Strepetov's design process was marked by improvisation and experimentation. The initial design only included the upper part of the chair, leading him to work on the feet with the chair being inverted. This seemingly challenging situation helped form the end design. The absence of access to welding led Strepetov to seek structural rigidity in woven construction techniques, opening his eyes to the beauty, strength, and awe-inspiring opportunities that arose from seemingly simplistic solutions.

Kepler-186f is not just a testament to Strepetov's creativity and innovation, but also his dedication and courage. Despite the potential doubts and pressure from his colleagues, he chose to focus on his artwork, communicating only through it. His efforts were rewarded when Kepler-186f was awarded Silver in A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award in 2019, a recognition given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation.