Lifestyle furniture brand Arflex has collaborated with textile designer Masaru Suzuki. The special exhibition "MARENCO x Suzuki Masaru" is running at the Arflex Shop Osaka until April 21st.

After graduating from Tama Art University's Department of Textile Design, Suzuki Masaru worked at Awatsuji Hiroshi Design Studio. He eventually went independent and launched the fabric brand OTTAIPNU in 2005. He has since worked on projects for various manufacturers and brands, including designing for the long-established Finnish fabric brand Marimekko.

This event aims to convey the joy of furniture and textile design, and is a re-creation of an exhibition held in Tokyo last year. Arflex's simple furniture is fused with Suzuki's bold, vibrant, and humorous designs.

One of the most notable exhibits is the collaboration model with the brand's signature brand, MARENCO. This sofa was born from a fleeting sketch by designer Mario Marenco, and its unique, streamlined form continues to be beloved by many even 40 years after its release.

One of the collaborative pieces, "DANCE" (3-seater/788,000 yen), is characterized by a design that Suzuki described as "aggressive" and deviates from the realities of everyday use. True to Suzuki's words, "I placed things next to each other that don't match as much as possible in terms of color and pattern," this classic sofa has been reborn as an artistic piece reminiscent of contemporary art.

On the other hand, "PARK" (3-seater/742,000 yen) is the polar opposite of sharp modernism, featuring cute, relatable animal motifs. Treating the entire sofa as a single canvas, the design is printed across the seat, armrests, and other areas. The motifs, divided and connected between each part, are expressed in a painterly way. A similar technique is used on the "BALOON" (3-seater/612,000 yen). By printing a dotted motif similar to the Malenco's form across the chair, an unpredictable, irregular pattern is created, creating the optical illusion that the sofa's shape is changing. The material is Malenco's signature linen, and each print is hand-printed. Furthermore, the "RINN" chair (from 53,000 yen) features a seamless, flowing form, with careful attention paid to the direction of the wood grain. The seat is made with all 20 different fabrics used in the Malenco, adding an artistic touch. Also on display will be a limited-edition speaker cover for the "BeoPlay A9," released in March of this year in collaboration with audio manufacturer Bang & Olufsen Japan.

Regarding this collaboration, Suzuki said, "Wrapped in three different textiles made with different techniques, Marenco takes on a completely different appearance from the cool Marenco that everyone knows. The colors and patterns float through the space, fluctuating and uplifting in people's hearts, and intangible sensations become a new reality that transforms their lives and their environment. Modern design and cute design intertwine, and the sofa itself and the environment are dramatically transformed by the textiles. Everyone, please come and see for yourself."

[Event Information]
MARENCO x Suzuki Masaru
Venue: Alfrex Shop Osaka
Address: Benetton Shinsaibashi Building 6F, 4-2-11 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Dates: April 10th to 21st
Time: 11:00 to 19:00 (18:00 to 20:00 on the 10th)
Closed: April 15th