Craft of Both, in partnership with MADE, presents the ‘Moon Series’; a modular, sculptural seating language in a constant state of unfolding.
Inspired by the iconic, rhythmic geometry of the Chinese Paper Fan – and its dynamic ability to claim and carve three-dimensional space - the Moon Series is realised as two discrete, yet complementary pieces; the ‘Moon Chair’ (60°) and ‘Moon Bench’ (120°), celebrating a contrast between hard and soft, regular and irregular, transparent and opaque, framework and volume, motion and stillness. A dialogue of frictions; both elegant and playful, both dramatic and understated. A hybrid of Western and Asian craft.

The rhythmic, curvilinear profile of oak at the core of Moon Series sets the stage for a boundless array of oversized folding fabric fan modules which, upon their attachment to the frame, unfold - flexing, flowing, partitioning, and transforming the once rigid silhouette of the seat, and surrounding space into a voluptuous cloud in motion.

With near complete modularity, flexibility and customisability, the Moon Series becomes an elegant tool for practical yet creative and evocative inhabitation of space – setting the stage for constant and comprehensive redefinition of the form, footprint and silhouette of each piece (and the surrounding space) according to preference or need.

Housing concealed magnetic nodes at every key vertex along their spans, the Moon Chair and Moon Bench allow bespoke fan modules to be attached, removed, folded or unfolded with ease at any position and in any direction. The interchangeability of these fan modules opens the door boundless customisation options – empowering the user with full choice of colour, texture and transparency.

The process, motion, sound and sensation of snapping on fan modules has been carefully engineered to create a tactile experience for the user, as they explore and unfold.

The Moon Series is a love letter to the Chinese Paper Fan – an iconic and widely celebrated object with its own lineage and heritage, and a tactile, expressive device able to inform privacy, movement, colour, air and texture. By emulating, and recontextualising, these qualities, the Moon Series seeks to elevate the relationship of an otherwise ‘static’ piece of furniture with its environment, such that it becomes an active, empowering device in dialogue with its surroundings.

Further, via the combination of two or more Moon Chairs or Moon Benches, an extended sculptural landscape unfolds – an undulating, snaking and continuous timber form, where a ‘choreography’ of fans can controls orientation, privacy, comfort and aesthetic.

The Moon Series encourages and rewards creative exploration. Like a fan dance, the form of the Moon Series establishes a rhythm, pace and meter, but the fluidity and variety of the fans is realised by the users own choreography. Across the Moon Bench alone – over 4000 fan configurations are possible to discover.