IBERIAN SENSATION

For artist-designer the true value of design lies in non-conformity and inspiring others to boldly step into uncharted territories and go where no creator has explored in the great big universe of art

Celebrated entertainers like Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey are known for their diva demands on set – Lopez has her preference for all-white studio props while Carey “doesn’t do stairs” – but for Jaime Hayon, who is very much a celebrity in the art and design worlds, all he needs is a pen and paper. “It’s like I’m possessed! I draw everywhere, all the time,” he says during the start of the interview. At the conclusion of the 40-minute long interview, he’d filled three sheets of paper with various sketches and doodles. It’s a small gesture, but provides an insight into the incredibly prolific mind of this 41-year-old artist-designer, who, in the 12 years since bursting on the scene, has created everything from bathtubs and lounge chairs to oversized sculptures and shop interiors. The irony is that he never planned to become a designer. “It just came out,” he says. “I actually wanted to be a cook. I might end up doing something else next year. I’m not looking at what’s going to happen. I just live in the moment.” Speaking to Tatler Homes at the Republic of Fritz Hansen, situated next to W Atelier along Bukit Timah in Singapore, Hayon is also taking the opportunity to introduce his latest collection designed for the lauded Danish brand. The Sammen dining chair and the Fri lounger debuted at the Milan furniture fair this year to widespread acclaim. It’s his fourth collaboration with Fritz Hansen, after 2011’s Favn sofa, 2013’s Ro armchair and 2014’s Analog dining table.