Tokujin Yoshioka reveals his striking Invisibles collection of furniture for Kartell

The Invisibles installation at Kartell’s flagship store in Milan.

(Image credit: press)

Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka has been a busy man this year, producing new pieces for the Swarovski Crystal Palace and Moroso Salone shows - as well as this striking 'Invisibles' collection of furniture for Kartell.

Unveiled in the brand's flagship store, beneath a luminescent installation of transparent, snowflake-like prism sticks - also by Yoshioka - the Invisibles collection consists of polycarbonate tables, sofas, armchairs and benches that are ethereal yet surprisingly solid. Sit on a chair and its form seems to disappear. 'The presence of the object is eradicated and it will create a vision of the sitter floating in the air,' says Yoshioka.

The collection is pioneering in its use of polycarbonate in a thickness never seen before. But its diaphanous appearance is emphasised by the prisms overhead. Says the designer: 'The installation gives visitors that extraordinary sensation of entering an unreal world.'

Yoshioka's new collection for Kartell is also augmented by new works by Philippe Starck, Eugeni Quitllet and Piero Lissoni.

Invisible chair by Tokujin Yoshioka for Kartell.

The Invisibles installation at the Kartell flagship store.

Invisible chair by Tokujin Yoshioka for Kartell. Sit on the chair and its form seems to disappear.

'Ghost Buster' by Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitllet - one of Kartell's other new pieces on show in Milan.

'Small Ghost Buster' by Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitllet for Kartell. — ’Small Ghost Buster’ by Philippe Starck and Eugeni Quitllet for Kartell.

ADDRESS

Kartell
Via C. Porta 1, Ang Via Turati
Milan

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.