Shoe Chair by Birgit Jürgenssen – Cult Object

Shoe Chair by Birgit Jürgenssen

Birgit Jürgenssen’s 1974 sculpture, “Schuhsessel” (Shoe Chair), exemplifies her exploration of gender roles and the interplay between everyday objects and identity. Crafted from wood and leather, the piece merges the forms of a high-heeled shoe and a chair, creating a hybrid object that challenges traditional perceptions of femininity and domesticity. (Birgit Juergenssen)

The Shoe Chair’s design reflects Jürgenssen’s interest in how objects can embody and project societal gender expectations. Combining a stiletto—a symbol often associated with femininity and sexuality—with a chair, she critiques the conventional roles assigned to women, particularly within domestic spaces. This fusion of form and function invites viewers to reconsider the cultural narratives embedded in everyday items.

Jürgenssen’s affiliation with the feminist-oriented group DIE DAMEN, alongside artists such as Evelyne Egerer, ONA B., Ingeborg Strobl, and Lawrence Weiner, further informed her practice. Through this collaboration, she engaged in projects that blurred the lines between art and life, performance and object, challenging the status quo and advocating for women’s autonomy in art and beyond.

The Shoe Chair is part of the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts collection in Vienna, Austria. Its dimensions are 81 x 53 x 141 cm, and it stands as a testament to Jürgenssen’s innovative approach to sculpture and her commitment to addressing complex themes of gender and identity through art. (Birgit Juergenssen)

For those interested in exploring the intersections of design, gender, and cultural symbolism, Jürgenssen’s work offers a compelling study. Her ability to transform familiar objects into thought-provoking art pieces continues to inspire discussions on the role of design in shaping societal norms.

Source

Google. (n.d.). [Shoe chair] – Birgit jürgenssen – google arts & culture. Google. Retrieved September 21, 2021, from https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/shoe-chair-birgit-j%C3%BCrgenssen/bgEGKivLX8jlAQ.

More on Chair Design

Related Articles

• The Women of the Bauhaus School – Update
• Salvatore Ferragamo: The Journey of a Legendary Shoemaker
• Homemaid Living Shoe Storage Bench – Good Design
• Maxwell Smart’s Shoe Phone: An Icon of Design
• Defined by Design: The Surprising Power of Hidden Gender, Age, and Body Bias in Everyday Products and Places