Designboom_ Freddy Marbic, an imposing, hand-carved marble sculpture, exudes an uncanny resemblance to a lifelike inflatable chair. Handcrafted by designer and artist Hanne Arends, the concept playfully stems from the idea that Freddy perceives himself to be made of plastic, despite being intricately carved from solid white Carrara marble. An enigma that challenges perception, the sculpture questions the blurred lines between reality and illusion in our world.As Arends puts it,‘Freddy serves as a call to maintain a critical perspective on the world around us because not everything is as it initially appears.’

Hanne Arends will be graduating from Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam this year with her latest project, Freddy Marbic. Weighing 600 kg but appearing as a lightweight inflatable chair, the sculpture serves as a compelling expression of Arends’ artistic skills and thought-provoking approach. Its design centers around pristine Carrara marble, a symbol of elegance and timelessness in the world of sculpture. Yet, the sculpture’s essence lies in the idea that Freddy, the character it embodies, firmly believes he is made of plastic, indifferent to any arguments about his true material nature. This juxtaposition of perception and reality sparks contemplation on how opinions are often mistaken for facts in today’s complex world.