[ Fly-Pitcher ] Zero Gravity

London and Cape Town-based designer Fly-pitcher has sent us images of Zero Gravity, his stand at Design Tide Tokyo last month.

Among work on show was Satellite Chandelier, an installation piece featuring nickel-plated TV and radio receiving equipment.

Other projects shown included the designer’s Corian Lantern and a stool prototype made from Nylon.

The following is from Fly-pitcher:

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“Satellite Chandelier”

The launch of “Satellite Chandelier” represents a departure into a new direction for South African raised British designer fly-pitcher, in their first exhibition of work in Japan entitled Zero Gravity.

Above: Nylon Stool Prototype

The work forms a random cluster of reflective nickel-plated satellite TV dishes and radio antennae, and comments on our increasing dependence on information as entertainment; CNN, BBC, SKY, ITV and more global news channels than you can shake a stick at, with live coverage of 9/11, Iraq, global meltdown and recent stock market crash all making this piece more compelling.

Above: Corian Low Table

Not considered to be objects of beauty, the ubiquitous satellite dish has been re-contextualised inside the gallery space and given new status as a piece of design, raising questions of stability, permanence and how our society views beauty and function from separate sides of the room.

Piers Mansfield-Scaddan works under the alias fly-pitcher, designing limited edition products, installations and architecture. His individual approach to process provides an alternative to mass production.

Above: Corian Lantern

Other works include experimentation through model making, 3d printing and computer based manufacturing methods including high-end production techniques used in theautomotive industries.

Above: Satellite Chandelier

fly-pitcher is known for its innovative use of materials such as nylon, Kevlar™ and carbon composites, often working with producers and companies like Dupont Corian™ to produce concept pieces which are highly sought after and collected internationally.

“Seft Chair”

Seft is the product of a formal investigation to recreate the feel of an armchair in a contemporary material. Designed to appeal to the eye primarily and that changes profile as one walks around the chair.

More sculptural than purely functional chair, this model was and made in the studio over a period of about 3 years.

“Some ideas are quick to resolve themselves, others just take an unreasonable amount of time to resolve. At the time it was first ketched out, my ability to resolve this piece weren’t there. I struggled to find a way to finish the underside in a satisfactory way, that would feel that it was the same chair on both surfaces.”

Above: Seft Chair

Inspired by a Möbius curve which has only a single surface, the profile changes if walked around, the arm becomes the seat becomes the arm becomes the head rest.

Above: Carbon Steel Chair

Also, the bottom of the chair has been punched through to reveal the point where it connects with the floor.