Ron Arad, Israeli-born and London-based industrial designer, artist and architect, lives the life many creative people dream of: he can create whatever he wants, whenever he wants.
'I'm in a lucky position,' said Arad. 'We [the team at his design practice Ron Arad Associates] can do whatever we are interested in, from building design to German cutlery. There are no borders here, it is all fluid.'
The word 'fluid' applies to more than just Arad's take on the divisions between art, architecture and design. It is also a word often employed to describe many of his creations.
Two of Arad's works will be on show at ART HK 09, and both are curving, shiny and technically advanced sculptural forms that also have practical use: a chair called AYOR (At Your Own Risk) from 1991, and a piece from his 1999 B.O.O.P. (Blown Out Of Proportion) series of superplastic aluminium blown furniture pieces created from computer visualisations.
'AYOR is weighted to the front so that it looks like an apostrophe sign,' said Arad. 'You would think twice before sitting on it but you're in God's hands.'
Once the chair is dipped back beyond its counterweight, it offers its hidden seat, but when not in use, the chair becomes an abstract sculpture, bridging the boundary between contemporary art and design.
'Both AYOR and B.O.O.P. are older designs - almost vintage, a kind of mini-vintage - although I'm not vintage myself, I'm still alive and kicking,' said Arad, now 58. 'They were made earlier and are more innocent. They have a value you can't replicate, and they represent a time in the world and my development.'