Ingeniously customizable pieces has put luxury furniture brand Roche Bobois on top. Their creations have allowed the Italian brand to have distinctive collaborations with creatives from around the world. This has put the brand at the top for their innovation and craftsmanship. One of their iconic pieces is the Mah Jong Sofa.
Created by Hans Hopfer, the goal of this piece is to provide total freedom of function and form. Many prominent names have already given the Mah Jong their own spin to it. Joining designers Jean Paul Gaultier and Kenzo Takada among the roster of these creatives are 10 Filipinos from various creative fields.
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Bobby Mañosa, Ed Calma, Bea Valdes, Vito Selma, Paloma Urquijo-Zobel, Chat Fores, Jojo Lofranco, Geraldine Javier, Costantino Zicarelli, and Nikki Luna gather to put their own spin to the iconic Mah Jong Sofa. Each one a creative on their own, puts a part of their aesthetic in their creations.
Arch. Bobby Mañosa embraces Filipino culture by adding a symphony of patterns and forms derived from various indigenous weaving traditions.
Arch. Ed Calma plays on the sofa’s surface by adding an architectural idea on it without altering its original design.
Oriental—that’s what best describes interior designer Chat Flores’s design. Pulling inspiration from her childhood, her creation is a sentimental tribute to her family.
Vito Selma, known for the exceptional woodwork on his furniture designs, showcases the raw beauty of the Mah Jong. Naturally adding wood to his creation, adds warmth and texture to its original look.
From jewelry design, Bea Valdez didn’t fail to incorporate Filipino craft and tradition to her design. Her Mah Jong includes hand-embroidered appliques while adding fabric manipulation through denim and chambray.
Paloma Urquijo-Zobel PIOPIO’s repurposed traditional textiles on her Mah Jong Sofa, paying homage to the wears of Ilocos and rest of the Philippines.
Feminist and artist Nikki Luna used her creation to make a statement against violence that pervades Philippine society, emphasizing on the three core values the sofa has: form, function, and freedom.
Movements and interplay are portrayed on Jojo Lofranco’s Mah Jong. He has successfully created a moving piece that didn’t dare risk the art already present on the sofa.
Geraldine Javier puts heart and hard work in her creation by integrating skillful labor with adorable shapes inspired by her German Shepherd.
Costantino Zicarelli turned his creation black from the original pristine white. He felt the responsibility to do the opposite of how the Mah Jong was first presented to him.
Each designer has only created one Mah Jong Sofa, auctioned off at ‘Interactions’. Part of the proceeds will go to their main beneficiary Asian Cultural Council (ACC) Philippines Foundation, Inc., along with PAWS, Tukod Foundation, AHA Learning Center, Global Seed Savers and Baigani Feminist Solidarity.
