Roham Shamekh introduces the Manifestation chair in Gold Bronze at Milan Design Week 2025, marking his first participation in the annual design event. The sculptural chair features in Elevating Objects, a group exhibition curated by the digital platform Deoron. Located at Via Paolo Frisi 3 in Milan’s Porta Venezia district, the exhibition runs from April 7 to 13 and brings together work that pushes the boundaries of material and narrative.
From Design Miami to Milan
The chair previously debuted at Design Miami as part of Pharrell’s Echoes collection, where it stood out as one of the most interacted-with pieces during the fair. It drew attention not only from collectors but also from visitors drawn to its immersive qualities. In Milan, the chair reappears in a luminous gold bronze finish that expands its presence and invites deeper engagement.
Material with Intention
Gold bronze serves a vital role in the chair’s concept. Across different cultures and eras, gold has carried connotations of protection, insight, and power. Shamekh uses this symbolism to transform the chair into more than just an object. The material becomes a vehicle for emotional connection and self-reflection. The designer invites viewers to sit, focus inward, and express a personal wish while seated. By engaging with the chair, each person activates its energy and becomes part of its story.
Sculptural Cherubim and Invisible Influence
Two cherubim figures sit at the center of the chair’s sculptural identity. Their presence, reinterpreted in Pharrell’s distinct style, signals the role of unseen forces that shape human experience. Shamekh incorporates them not for decoration but to suggest the presence of guardians, symbols of the help and influence people receive without always noticing it. One of those influences, Shamekh notes, came from Pharrell himself. Years ago, when Shamekh faced a difficult personal situation, Pharrell’s music helped him overcome it. Though Pharrell never knew it, he became a silent guide in Shamekh’s creative path.
A Chair That Reflects and Receives
The Manifestation chair doesn’t present itself as a static design object. It encourages action, inviting visitors to sit, reflect, and engage. The reflective gold surface responds to light and presence, but more significantly, it responds to intention.
At Elevating Objects, curated by Deoron, the Manifestation chair positions itself as a standout piece. Its sculptural form, rich material choice, and personal narrative align with the exhibition’s mission to present works that challenge conventional ideas about furniture and design. For Shamekh, this debut in Milan reflects the culmination of an idea shaped by memory, influence, and emotion. It signals his entry into the international design scene through a piece that asks for stillness, invites thought, and allows energy to take form.
this is just so bad ahaha