Eindhoven graduate Sho Ota – known for his multi-layered, sculptural designs – will introduce a new series of side tables made of Abachi wood, seeking to push the boundaries of woodcrafting. In his inimitable style, Sho examines the idea of beginning with a minimalist form and subtly building in complexity.
For his new Splint collection, Sho has unified a large rectangular mass, which serves as a base, with smaller elements of wood; the main component alone is unstable but when assembled with the secondary parts, it is strengthened, allowing it to function as a table. Usually in furniture production, these parts are hidden or blended within the structure of an object, however, here Sho has deliberately left them exposed, simplifying them and presenting them in a form that is easy to understand. Sho explains: ‘I find such simple, true minimalism without concealment to be beautiful. I find grace and beauty in its honest structure.’