Disabled Chair
A robotic armchair with casters and a wheelchair, 2014 - 2019
Samuel Bianchini
Electronic and software development (programming of “behaviors”): Didier Bouchon
Development of the tracking and mapping systems: Colin Bouvry
Material production: Adrien Bonnerot
Developed and prototyped as part of the research project “Behavioral Objects” of the Reflective Interaction Group of EnsadLab (laboratory of The École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs - PSL University)
Special thanks to Emmanuel Mahé, Filipe Pais, Emanuele Quinz, Nicolas Reeves
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
Two armchairs are in the same space: an empty room or stage. One of them is an armchair with casters, an office chair, a chair belonging to someone who makes important decisions. The other one is a wheelchair for disabled people. Alone, the first chair moves slowly at a varying and hesitating pace. It seems that it goes towards the other one, in order to be close to it, even to push it, but fails nearly each time it tries to do so. The office chair seems coarse, it seems to have a difficult time moving. When it finally pushes the wheelchair, it gets away very clumsily, as if it was overwhelmed by doubt and uncertainty. The second chair, for disabled people, cannot move by itself. It waits to be pushed. Its symbolic power pervades the whole stage and reinforces the uncertainty of disability.
Disabled Chair, prototype #3, 2019
"Invisible Man" Exhibition curating by Murray Horne
Wood Street Galleries, Pittsburgh, April 2019
Video - 3mn 10s - High band request
Images: Samuel Bianchini
Editign: Corentin Laplanche-TsuTsui
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
Disabled Chair, prototype #3, 2019
"Invisible Man" Exhibition curating by Murray Horne
Wood Street Galleries, Pittsburgh, April 2019
Photos: © Samuel Bianchini - ADAGP
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
Disabled Chair, prototype #2, 2018
During the event “We are not the number we think we are”, at The Cité internationale des arts, Paris, February 2018
Photos: © Samuel Bianchini - ADAGP
To download this image in HD (Tiff), click here
Disabled Chair, prototype #1, 2014
Prototype produced in the framework of a research-creation residency at Hexagram / Concordia University, organized by the NXI Gestatio / UQÀM team, with the help of Conseil québécois de coopération franco-universitaire.
Concordia University, Montréal, novembre 2014
Photo and video: © Samuel Bianchini - ADAGP
