Bangkok, Thailand
Artist and designer Taras Zheltyshev (known also as Tara Yoom), conceptualized and created ‘Inflated Ass’ a whimsical chair that is part of a bigger art project named Yoomoota.
In this art project, Yoomoota is a parallel universe with its unique planets and inhabitants. The objects in this universe reflect the dreamlike inner world of mankind and embody various phenomena of life.
The ‘inhabitants’ of Yoomoota, which are the art objects and furniture of the collection, are inspired by the pathways of the human body, thus serving an important educational mission to enhance people’s familiarity with themselves.
In this bizarre universe that Taras Zheltyshev created, there are many planets to visit, and ‘Inflated Ass’ is from the Planet of Paradise.
According to Zheltyshev’s worldbuilding ‘lore,’ the Inflated Ass chair takes the natural shape of an inflated plant which is predatory, and it is advised not to tame or sit on them, as doing so may result in becoming trapped in an eternal state of pleasure .
According to the story, the “chair is a predatory plant growing on the Planet of Paradise. It is a kind of «flycatcher» for all the living: as soon as a person sits on it, they can no longer get up. At such moments, the chair and person become unified whole so the Inflated Ass is able to both feed off people and nourish them.”
For its unique and creative design approach, Inflated Ass has been awarded a 2023 Good Design Award by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
“I really like the idea that a plant, along given paths, can grow into something physiological and practical. And it was the way this plant was formed: under the ass of two-legged creatures,” says Taras Zheltyshev about the chair.
Apart from the imaginative concept, the Yoomoota project has several manufacturing innovations.
The chair is manufactured almost entirely from natural materials, including wood, and felt. Wool and felt, are materials commonly used in outerwear manufacturing.
The durability of these materials, along with the absence of the need for rapid replacement and disposal, allows for the use of PU foam.
The manufacturing process of the item involves only the hands of the master, without the use of hot plastic or complex resins.
This ensures that the production of this interior item is as safe and eco-friendly as possible for the environment and climate.
Project: Inflated Ass
Designer: Yoomoota
Lead Designer: Taras Zheltyshev
Manufacturer: Yoomoota
