The Nieuwe Planter's Chair explores the enduring legacy of colonial design through the lens of the planter’s chair. Present in the Dutch, French and English colonies, the planter’s chair was originally crafted exclusively for the relaxation of the white male colonist, its design—a low seat, reclining back and armrests extending into footrests—was built for indulgence. From his seat of privilege, the white planter would recline in comfort, gazing at his domain while native servants attended to his needs. The chair itself embodies the privilege and detachment of those who claimed dominion over occupied lands, loaded with racial and gendered power dynamics.

In this contemporary reinterpretation, the designers Mileno Guillorel-Obregón and Yassine Ben Abdallah deconstructed a traditional Planter’s chair and redesigned it using industrial aluminium profiles. By juxtaposing these materials, their piece draws a direct parallel between the extractive practices of colonialism and and the global supply chains of today’s design industry. The result raises a critical question: Where does the new plantation sit?

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_{Comissioned piece for the Nieuwe Instituut
‍Created in collaboration with Mileno Guillorel-Obregón
Photos by Hugo Revollet}