Kwangho Lee creates anime-informed chairs from sponge pipes and nylon ropes
South Korean designer Kwangho Lee drew on a cult anime film for his Ghost in the Shell exhibition, which features chairs in his signature knotted style made from sponge pipes and nylon ropes.
The designer used plastic chairs that he covered in his knotted designs to create the pieces for the show, currently on display at the SKWAT Kameari Art Centre (SKAC) in Tokyo.
"I first formed a shape by knotting sponge pipes or nylon ropes onto the chair structure, then applied four to five coats of polyurethane to produce a bolder and more striking texture," Lee told Dezeen.
Lee, who says knotting "forms the foundation of my work", often uses industrial materials to create organic-looking shapes and designs.
"The core of my practice involves the act of dismantling and reconstructing the physical properties of the material," he explained.
"By doing this, I embed my contemplation and accumulated time – the 'Ghost' – within the completed form – the 'Shell'," Lee continued.
"My intention is to lead viewers to discover the unfamiliarity within the familiar and to convey the organic formal beauty I create."
His glossy Ghost in the Shell chairs, which were shown in multiple rows in SKAC's gallery space, appear to be covered in oversized knits.
While the majority of the chairs were designed in a pale, beige-yellow colour resembling natural wool, a selected few feature metal hues that evoke chainmail.
The exhibition collection was inspired by the iconic anime film Ghost in the Shell, based on the manga series of the same name, which explores evolution and the consciousness of machines.
"This work is linked to Ghost in the Shell," Lee said. "It is one of the animations I loved most during my student days, and its themes are woven into this project."
Next door to the SKAC gallery space, inside the art centre's book and record store, Lee also displayed his O Series.
Another seating collection, this was designed in collaboration with the South Korean aluminium manufacturer Format, which will be producing and selling the line.
Lee's geometric chairs were named for the circular cut-outs that feature on the backs and legs of the design.
"The 'O' resists a single definition," the designer said. "It may suggest cycle, infinity, or connection – or, to some, it reads as zero, circle, or simply the letter O."
"Open to interpretation, the form stretches across language and perception, expanding like a universe of endless possibility."
The chairs, which are made from reused aluminium formwork, have a sculptural design that Lee and SKAC played around with by displaying them side by side and back to back.
"Collaborating with an aluminium building material manufacturer naturally led me to explore recycled aluminium," Lee explained.
"I believe that the process of cutting and joining these existing construction materials allowed me to uncover unique and compelling shapes."
SKAC also recently showed reading nooks with furniture by Herzog & de Meuron, while Lee has previously created inlaid cherry-wood and copper furniture. He was shortlisted for Designer of the Year at Dezeen Awards 2025.
The photography is by Daisuke Shima.
Ghost in the Shell and O Series are on show at SKAC until 15 February 2026. For more global exhibitions, talks, and openings in architecture and design, visit Dezeen Events Guide.
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