VRTNI NAMJEÅ TAJ - DalCasa

A piece of cultU Mariscalovu pristupu uvijek ima nešto dječje / There is allwayssomething childish in Mariscal’s approachGoing beyond the issues of functionality and structure,fundamental value of an object like a chair, couch orarmchair lies in its ability to communicate positions, ideasand values. A chair’s credibility depends on the clarityof its rhetorical aspect and the messages it transmits.A fairytale-like contrast of colours, lack of symmetry anda semi-controlled type of playfulness create a uniqueexpression and freshness while revealing somethingchildish in Mariscal’s approach. When answering thequestion of if he puts more emphasis on functionalityor design when it comes to furniture, Mariscal respondsthat it all depends on the type of furniture. While it iscrucial for a kitchen chair to pay a lot more attentionto ergonomic standards than aesthetical ones, an armchairis often an object in the corner of a room thatcaries a string of associations and meanings, whilealso suiting the owner’s personality without putting toomuch emphasis on functionality. He adds that gooddesign always has to look towards solving various problems,while keeping in mind that the problem is oftenaesthetical in nature.Mariscal thinks in pictures and expresses himself withthem in a way that is often direct, synthetic and easyto decode. That results in the effect his design provokes.He doesn’t understand the concept of one-dimensionalsolutions, which means that his work can alwaysbe interpreted in different ways and everything can beturned into something else – an everyday object canbecome unusual and extraordinary. Javier Mariscal’suniverse radiates freshness, fun and a sense of poetics.That is noticeable in his drawings, decoration projectsand furniture. This versatile designer, impossible to avoidwhen talking about the international “first class ofdesigners”, has travelled around the globe with his creations.He exhibited all over the world (Documenta inKassel and Centar Georges Pompidou in Paris are probablythe most important), while traces of his creationsand distinctive designer artefacts are present in themost important collections of the world, such as MoMAin New York, Ricard Collection in Paris or La Caixa Foundationin Barcelona.Javier Mariscal is primarily an imaginative creator ofpictures that takes advantage of all means of supportand all disciplines in his work, from comic books andanimation, industrial and textile design, painting, sculpturingand multimedia.167