Paperclip turned into a chair: Esmee Gruson's functional absurdity

Dutch designer Esmee Gruson, a 2023 graduate of HKU Utrecht, has created the PAPERCLIP collection, featuring oversized paperclips transformed into non-functional design objects. By enlarging and distorting a common office supply, she produces a monumental, elegant yet utterly impractical 'chair' with a steel finish and powder coating. Gruson's work deliberately challenges conventional design rules and plays with perception, aiming to evoke emotions ranging from smiles to irritation. She states, 'I like to take something familiar and put it in a different light.' Humor is central to her approach, encouraging viewers to rethink everyday objects.