hanne arends carves 600 kg of carrara marble into sculptural chair

Freddy Marbic, an imposing, hand-carved marble sculpture, exudes an uncanny resemblance to a lifelike inflatable chair. Handcrafted by designer and artist Hanne Arends, the concept playfully stems from the idea that Freddy, a whimsical being, perceives himself to be made of plastic, despite being intricately carved from solid white Carrara marble. An enigma that challenges perception, the sculpture questions the blurred lines between reality and illusion in our world. As Arends puts it, ‘Freddy serves as a call to maintain a critical perspective on the world around us because not everything is as it initially appears.’

all images courtesy of Hanne Arends

Hanne Arends will be graduating from Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam this year with her latest project, Freddy Marbic. Weighing 600 kg but appearing as a lightweight inflatable chair, the sculpture serves as a compelling expression of Arends’ artistic skills and thought-provoking approach. Its design centers around pristine Carrara marble, a symbol of elegance and timelessness in the world of sculpture. Yet, the sculpture’s essence lies in the idea that Freddy, the character it embodies, firmly believes he is made of plastic, indifferent to any arguments about his true material nature. This juxtaposition of perception and reality sparks contemplation on how opinions are often mistaken for facts in today’s complex world.

Hanne Arends unveils sculptural chair, ‘Freddy Marbic’

hand-carved from 600 kg of solid white Carrara marble

the marble bears striking resemblance to inflatable plastic

the sculpture challenges perceptions of materiality, reality, and illusion

Hanne Arends sparks contemplation on how opinions are often mistaken for facts in today’s complex world

project info:

name: Freddy Marbic designer: Hanne Arends

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom