Motspråk by PEYTIL cuts plywood painting apart and rebuilds it as a chair

Motspråk, a project by PEYTIL and lead designer Eitil Arbenz Thorén, transforms a plywood painting into a chair by cutting the painted surface apart and reassembling it. Developed in September 2026 during Thorén’s studies at Konstfack in Stockholm, the work explores the shift from artwork to functional object. Plywood was selected for its layered construction and ease of cutting and reshaping. The spruce grain, knots, and irregularities are not hidden but integrated into the composition, appearing as small bodily marks, scars, or eyes that influence the visual character. The process merges Thorén’s initial artistic concept with the physical properties of the material and the project context. By cutting and assembling the plywood, the characteristics of the spruce inform both the painted surface and the final chair. The project was submitted through designboom’s DIY submissions feature and edited by Christina Vergopoulou. All images are credited to PEYTIL – Eitil Arbenz Thorén.