How do you make a solid block of wood into a comfortable cushion that adapts its shape to the user? Apply a precision cutting system that adds movement and an unexpected give. The secret to the Nikola cushion by Aviv Shany is a cutting method called Kinetica.
The cushion itself is made of pine sheets, joined with invisible bars so they look like a single piece. Once assembled, the wooden mass is carved into an ergonomic cushion shape before being sliced vertically and horizontally, encouraging the wood to shift and move under a user’s weight.
“Kinetic experiments with perception by creating objects that transgress expectations, which surprises people and forces them to cognitively engage with the pieces. Wooden objects are usually associated with qualities such as strength and constancy but Kinetica aims to challenge these preconceptions. The cuts reduce the previously static mass and at the same time transforms it by adding movement and dynamism.”
