Milan 2016: Japanese studio Nendo has installed its collection of chairs influenced by comic books in the courtyard of a historic cloister in Milan (+ slideshow).
The colonnaded surrounds of the Chiostro Minore di San Simpliciano, where the Mindcraft exhibition of Danish design was presented last year, is playing host to the exhibition of 50 seat designs.
To display the metallic chairs, Nendo created a white square of flooring in the centre of the open-air site.
The rest of the surrounding ground is carpeted black, extending into the arcades. Both floors contrast with the old arches and stucco of the building.
Nendo created the 50 Manga Chairs for New York gallery Friedman Benda, and has laid out the designs in diagonal rows to show off the variety of exaggerated forms.
"50 standard chairs are lined up in a grid, each one conjures up a sense of story, and each with a design element from manga," said Nendo.
Each is based on the abstract lines and grids used in the imagery of manga-style comic books, which conform to a late 19th-century Japanese graphic style.
Effect lines that denote actions, emotional symbols such as sweat and tears, and speech bubbles can all be identified as elements added to the typical chairs.
The mirrored finish of the furniture reflects the black and white flooring, as well as the earthy tones of the cloister. At night, the display square is illuminated around the edge and each of the designs is spotlit.
50 Manga Chairs can be found at Piazza Paola 6 for the duration of this year's Milan design week, which takes place from 12 to 17 April 2016.
During the event, Nendo is also showing leaning marbles tables for Marsotto Edizioni as part of a black and white exhibition and a transparent rocking horse for Kartell's new children's furniture range.
The studio, led by designer Oki Sato, is renowned for its vast output of design projects. An exhibition in Milan last year presented Nendo's 12-month output, which included over 100 products for 19 brands. At the opening, Sato told Dezeen that working on 400 products at a time "relaxes" him.
Photography is by Takumi Ota.