The Oyster Sofa is a massive sculptural piece of furniture, design by Cecilia Margareta Tjärnberg, MFA thesis BIG DATA DESIGN - Strange but familiar, 2019

The Oyster Sofa

The sofa is a part of a series of furniture belonging to the MFA thesis BIG DATA DESIGN - Strange but familiar. The form of the sofa is originally based on a light structure scanned oyster shell picked up on a beach in Thailand. The seating touches the ground and tilts up reaching 50 cm in height. Combined with the high gloss lacquer finish this feature enables kids to climb up and to slide down the design. My favorite place is down to the right, where I once almost fell asleep sitting on the floor leaning into the sofa which seamed to be caressing me. The color spectrum is wild in its character like youth and I find it communicates a notion of something ephemeral.

Material: MDF, plywood, massive wood. Finish: Color, high gloss lacquer. The main profiles were milled by Södermalms Skyltfabrik in Stockholm. The design was built, carved and painted at Konstfack by Cecilia Margareta Tjärnberg. Sponsors: Södermalms Skyltfabrik and Fredricsons Trä.

The Oyster Sofa and Carpet 0.1, visitors at the degree show, Konstfack 2019

The Oyster Sofa and Carpet 0.1, visitors at the degree show, Konstfack 2019. Photo by Lisa Andrén

The Oyster Sofa

Artistic research - selected material / The Oyster Sofa

MFA thesis BIG DATA DESIGN strange but familiar

The oyster shell, light structure scan data, 2018

The large sculpture exhibited during one presentation, painted MDF, Interior Reminiscence Therapy, 2018. The large sculpture was brought into the MFA project BIG DATA DESIGN as recycled architecture, repurposed and appropriated according to its new context. 

The Oyster Sofa, digital poly-mesh sketch

Supervisors; Einar Rodhe, Senior Lecturer, Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Department of Design, Interior Architecture and Visual Communication (DIV).

Christian Björk, Visiting Lecturer, -

Examiners; Tor Lindstrand, Senior Lecturer, Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Department of Design, Interior Architecture and Visual Communication (DIV).

Guest critic; Marcia Harvey Isaksson, Inredningsarkitekt MSA

Sponsors; Sundsvalls Kommun - Cultural Grant, SCA Östrands massafabrik - paper material, Kasthall - yarn

Selected tutors and collaborating partners; Palle Torsson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Fine Art. Gunnar Söder, Lecturer within the Department of Design at Konstfack. Alexander Wallin, a computer programmer, and musician. Rasmus Nossbring, Glass/Craft Artist.