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A new Bench-mark in the Design World by Alvin Tjitrowirjo

published in: Design By Guest, 17 December 2009

Image Courtesy Alvin Tjitrowirjo

Guest Contribution by Pascal Panagiotidis

Craftmanship and tradition has a lot to offer especially when they are interpreted through a young designer's eyes. Indonesia is a country where modern and tradition coexist, high quality materials and craftsmanship work together providing new modern design forms. A wealth of art and culture is a continuous source of inspiration for the young designers willing to explore the history of their country. Linger Bench is Alvin Tjitrowirjo’s latest concept, a tribute to Indonesian art and history. His respect to tradition and craftsmanship is obvious as Linger bench is hand made and natural material such as rattan was used for its production. This elastic material is ideal for outdoor furniture, resistant to any weather conditions and easy to handle as it takes any form without breaking.

Image Courtesy Alvin Tjitrowirjo

Playing with the forms Alvin has taken advantage of the rattan’s qualities and managed to make a modern approach as per the design, avoiding this way old fashioned patterns. Above all, the designer has managed to maintain the Indonesian culture alive through new concepts like the Linger Bench. An effort that helps and sustains the local craftsmen whose technique is a valuable asset for the generations to come.

Image Courtesy Alvin Tjitrowirjo

This attempt to establish the Indonesian design throughout the world brought Alvin Tjitrowirjo and International designer Marcel Wanders closer through a successful collaboration. A combination of Wanders' poetic approach and Tjitrowirjo's deep knowledge and interpretion of the local art could only lead to new concepts that will place Indonesian design in the international Design map breaking any geografical or ideological fontieres.

Image Courtesy Alvin Tjitrowirjo

Alvin Tjitrowirjo graduated from RMIT University in 2004. In 2008 Alvin Tjitrowirjo was named a finalist for the "Australian Alumni Award for Creativity and Design". His specialties are industrial design, art direction and interior design. Tjitrowirjo joined Grain&Green architecture firm lead by renowned Architect Jeffrey Budiman and at the same time he joined Dform, a non-profit organisation that aims to promote Indonesian designs. Right now he is working on his own label alvinT. The alvinT brand is dedicated to revive the Indonesian design and make its special character well known around the world.

Image Courtesy Alvin Tjitrowirjo

Nowadays alvinT holds a wide variety of products, a profolio where each object brings the traditional Indonesian art's mark. The brand has been present in many international exhibitions like Salone satelitte Milan 2005, Launch Pad Melbourne 2006, Shanghai 2006, Talents Ambiente Frankfurt 2008 and Planet Mueble Paris 2009.

Image Courtesy Alvin Tjitrowirjo

sources:

alvinT

  • friend
    sauvage | 2009-12-17 19:56:42

    bravo, a well executed fusion between the modern and traditional. i love the material he used, rattan is very distinctive in indonesia (aside from maybe wood) and it made the whole piece seem very approachable, serving its initial purpose... i'm glad that more and more indonesians are getting the coverage that they deserve : )

  • friend
    Furniture | 2009-12-17 22:06:55

    That's nice! I always liked Alvins work though. For me, the biggest problem with alvin is that takes too much time. I felt like I was looking for a needle in a haystack. I don't know if that's insurable or not. Alvin cannot be relied on. Costs vary with the scope and magnitude of a alvin project. Well, look what the cat dragged in. There's another way of taking statement about design. This is going to be another banner year. For some reason, people seem to think that just because it's on the Internet it's good. It is fab how you does relate to a unmistakable thing like this.

  • friend
    Yar | 2009-12-21 02:30:34

    Cool but look like very old Matthias Pliessnig works www.matthias-studio.com/

  • friend
    hosro | 2009-12-25 01:21:32

    The piece is effective. It attracts me from several levels. I would want it in my own environment.

  • friend
    Gimmy | 2009-12-31 23:03:40

    This is pretty much a exact copy of Matthias Pliessnig's work, not conceptual or new at all just a slightly different material. www.matthias-studio.com

  • friend
    DOD | 2010-02-01 17:38:39

    if "providence" by matthias pliessnig has a twin this would be it.

  • friend
    Canopy | 2010-02-03 09:48:13

    Alvin has really put forth a benchmark in the design world. Its rare to see such masterpieces so beautifully crafted with the touch of never ending tradition. Just by making a benchsee how he showed Indonesia to the world. Thats what I call art! Its not just that it is a furniture which can be used outdoors,has long life due to good resistance against weather conditions and it takes any shape but it is a model to the future craftsmen as well. What makes a piece of art an art is not just its beauty or its functions but what it resembles and this linger bench has just done that. It is a pity I couldn't be in any of those places where they exhibited this master craft as I was down with fever!

  • friend
    Rain Barrel | 2010-03-08 02:47:38

    What a beautiful piece of furniture. The photography is lovely too.

  • friend
    Azharul Islam | 2011-11-21 21:24:55

    i want it .eye catching .awesome designed and Alvin Tjitrowirjo i like your photography..

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