Fantastic and functional are just two of the words that come to mind when viewing the furniture “sculptures” of New York artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz.

One of his latest creations, the kinetic Wave Cabinet, is no exception. Available in baltic birch wood and white laminate, the cabinet is composed of a multitude of slats, each of which “pull” the one adjacent to it, for a variety of configurations.

Each kinetic cabinet take about a year of research and several weeks, if not months to fabricate, Errazuriz says. “I invented each mechanism and make all the pieces in the wood workshop of my studio in Brooklyn. It’s a very long and complex process.”

In designing the functional sculpture pieces, Errazuriz thinks outside the box — and forces others to do the same.“I am inviting people to look at one of the simplest forms of furniture design and to forget that we are talking about furniture, instead to see it as a way of breaking a box,” Errazuriz has said of the Wave Cabinet. “I love the idea of creating beautiful furniture; nevertheless I am much more interested in using the medium as an excuse to trigger people’s curiosity and create connections with them.”

Connecting Art, Design & Inspiration

Growing up in Santiago, Chile, Errazuriz knew at an early age that he wanted to be an artist. When it seemed that path would be closed to him, he turned to design.

“I approached design because I did not dare to study art,” Errazuriz says. “I grew up in a very rigid environment in regards to art education. My father is a great scholar and wrote books on art, therefore, as a child, artists were my heroes. I did not want to become a fireman or Spiderman but an artist! As I reached 18 years of age, I had to choose where to study and, considering an artist career beyond my capabilities, I devoted myself to design instead.

“Design is a project-based and functionality oriented endeavour, where you may avail yourself of multiple tools. Conversely, art is essentially a matter of whether you are endowed with certain talents. Regardless, I decided to let go a little over time and explore the art from within design.”

WOOD 100 Artistic Force in Product Innovation Chilean-born artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz is known for the unique, and this Magistral Chest (pictured) certainly fits the bill.

When asked where he gets his inspiration, Errazuriz says, “Inspiration comes from inside; it’s your own personal hunch, your personal visions that are triggered by the common situations and elements we share with everyone else. If you stay true and honest to your own visions of this world we share and you place those personal unique visions for the rest to see; there will be a few people in every country that will always connect passionately with you and really value what ever it is you feel and do.”

He adds, “If you copy what is already out there most people will have a relatively good but superficial answer to what you do, but they won’t care much, because ultimately you have nothing that different to offer and your work will be ultimately lost in a sea of similar things.”

With his unique visions and talent, Errazuriz’s work will always stand apart.

For more information, go to MeetSebastian.com and Facebook.com/sebastian.errazuriz. Follow on Instagram @sebastianstudio, Twitter @holysebastian.

The Wave Cabinets are sold exclusively by Cristina Grajales Gallery and Salon 94 Gallery.