NEWS// Arthur G Celebrates 35 Years of Australian Design
Arthur G Celebrates 35
Years of Australian Design
By Hannah Mars
Arthur Georgopoulos founded Arthur G single-handedly
in 1979. As part of 2015’s Sydney In Design week, the Australian design house
transformed their Surry Hills showroom to showcase 35 years of hand-made craftsmanship.
A retrospective of their most memorable designs were
displayed to commemorate the milestone. Like an in-house museum, information
cards gave an insight into the era and history of each carefully chosen piece.
The earliest items dated back to the brand’s
inception, such as ‘Design 22’ from 1979; a single chair (originally part of a
suite with a two seater lounge), crafted in a frame of dark teak timber and
brown leather upholstery; reflective of the Mediterranean, Colonial and
Jacobean style’s which were particularly popular throughout the 70’s. The
‘Modular Section’ of 2001 recalled the trend for ‘casual living’ in the era,
favouring easy-to-clean fabrics such as ‘ultra-suede’ in response to the demand
for furniture that was versatile and low-maintenance.
Upstairs housed the brand’s current collection. In
contrast to the definitive aesthetics of 20th century decades,
Arthur G’s contemporary furnishings are all about combining the well-honed styles
of their prior collections. Essentially, downstairs is a preview to the latest
line, constructed by fusing the best elements of the past.
The diamond button, tan leather seats of the
‘Manhattan FB’ sofa are propped up by short, modern legs; refined lines with
comfortable, practical proportion. Winged ‘Benson’ chairs are some of the
boldest items in the Arthur G collection. Splashed with fun, abstract patterns,
such as green papaya fruit, they are a modern twist on a traditional design,
reflective of the brand’s ethos as a whole.