Elli Maanpää's painted armchair, Throne, featured in the Hidden Craftsmanship exhibition at Kämp Gallery in Helsinki.
HIDDEN CRAFTMANSHIP
Kämp Gallery, Helsinki, Finland
6.9.-15.9.2024
The Hidden Craftsmanship exhibition by the Finnish Association of Master Upholsterers showcases the versatility of upholstery and the opportunities it offers for both public and private spaces. Upholster master Ida Eklund asked me if I wanted to participate in the exhibition by painting a classic armchair she upholstered and prepped for me. I said yes, as it seemed like a fun project, which it was.
I got the idea to paint the ordinary "grandma" chair as a throne. But who sits on the throne? At first glance, you might think it’s the queen, right? Maybe if you look again, you’ll see all the servants and entertainers rushing to her at the back of the chair. Clearly, they are not sitting since they are more like running. It must be the queen on the other side. But then—you look down and notice there’s a cat. A cat is sitting in the queen's lap. As we all know, you can’t get up if there’s a cat in your lap. So, the cat is in charge, right?
The sunglass design of the queen and the queen cat was inspired by a about four-year-old boss lady I saw in a park in Helsinki.
The Throne artwork is available in my online shop. While I recommend treating this object as the unique one-of-a-kind artwork it is, you can still sit on it if you choose to do so. Acrylic paint is quite durable, and as it has been prepped with gesso, the paint is strong. However, if there’s a lot of friction, the heavy paint textures might crack and fade. It’s probably best to leave the chair mostly for the cat.
A close-up of the cat from Elli Maanpää's painted armchair, Throne, capturing the playful expression that showcases its role as the true ruler of the seat.
Elli Maanpää poses in front of her artwork, Throne, during the Hidden Craftsmanship exhibition vernissage. This photograph was taken by Herra Kuula.
A close-up of the back of the chair reveals the details of the servants depicted in the artwork, adding narrative to the overall design of Throne.
Throne by Helsinki-based contemporary artist Elli Maanpää is showcased in all its glory.
