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Chaise Moustachue, 2022
von • by Arthur Kenzo

instagram: by.arthurkenzo

A certain cheerfulness meanders through the life and the art of

Arthur Kenzo. Immediately after the young French industrial de-

signer had finished his basic studies at the École de design in

Nantes, the first job offers took him to well-known manufactur-

ers of electronics in Shanghai where he also completed his mas-

ter’s programme. With formative experiences gained, already in

2012 Kenzo was chosen for a prestigious job as a designer with

a tech giant in the Silicon Valley. Since then, he has been partic-

ipating in the development of smartphones, smartwatches and

loudspeakers which people all over the world are holding in

their hands and using. These product designs are all character-

ized by rounded, soft and intuitive forms as well as appealing,

strong colours. Just as playful, universally understandable and

striking as the products suitable for everyone are also the graph-

ics shown here which Kenzo privately produces and shares on

his Instagram account. With brushes he makes himself, the artist

draws line patterns on the tablet computer and then prints them

with lightfast ink in giclee technology onto cold-pressed, rough

paper. The result: curved imaginative infinite loops with radial

colour gradients that communicate positivity and optimism like

colourful banners. Due to being printed on paper, the digital
drawings are given an artisanal appearance. Iridescent surfaces

produce three-dimensionality in the image; the linear structures

give the objects a certain grip. With all this, Kenzo’s digital paint-

ing technique reminds of analogue watercolour painting where

only a multi-layered colour application creates intensity and

depth. On Instagram, one can find even more of these cheerful

pictures that whet the appetite for colour, for spring and for life!