Sizar Alexis

Sizar Alexis is a Swedish‑Iraqi designer that experiments with objects that display a sense of stillness and serenity with strong character through geometrical shapes, this feeling accomplished through the use of raw and inherent beauty of natural materials. Alongside his material driven approach, Sizar brings personal and cultural narratives into his work. In combination with a deep interest in Brutalist aesthetics and contextual inspiration from the rich cultural and architectural heritage of ancient Mesopotamia. He aims to explore his own identity and position within the Chaldean diaspora and in the design industry.

Lahmu

“When me and my wife got home from the maternity ward in april 2020, we made sure that we were protected from the pandemic and isolated ourselves from everyone, even our families, to protect our newborn son. With the core values of the Discovered project, touch, reflection and strength in mind, I reflected that our apartment was functioning like a bunker in that period of isolation, protecting ourselves from the outside world and from that I got the idea to make a bunker inspired furniture that would represent the emotional connection to these thoughts.”

“My association with bunkers comes from the war in Iraq when me and my family protected ourselves in a room functioning as a bunker in our home. An experience that many still have, to protect themselves from a visible enemy and now we found ourselves fighting an invisible one today. Drawing from the similarities in experiences between my own childhood where there was a visible enemy to be protected from and my young sons where there was an invisible one. I then made two sculptural pieces of furniture to represent these two worlds defined by strong monolithic forms and a sense of stillness.”

“The sculptural pieces serve as a side table or stools and together as a bench or as a low sideboard, inspired by bunker architecture. I chose two contrasting woods: one half in American cherry, for its inherent warmth, and one half in red oak, its surface burned with the Japanese burning method called shou sugi ban. The name Lahmu comes from Mesopotamian mythology of a protective deity that was supposed to ward off demons and sickness.”Discovered project was initiated by Wallpaper magazine & AHEC and exhibited in the Design Museum in London in september 2021.

ItooRaba

A furniture series that embraces geometrical shapes. Inspired by the passion for Brutalism, by letting the technical and functional details stand in the center of the design. A minimalist sculpture that challenges its surroundings with every edge, angle and line in its quest for geometric precision. Itooraba comes from “itota rabtha” which means large settings in Chaldean. The term is used at the larger invitation to welcome and show guests appreciation.

Pilier

A series of boldly sculpted furniture and objects, an appreciation of the raw metal texture. The series is made in steel without any welds. Assembled by Sizar Alexis in Eskilstuna, where various parts go into one and another then locked in place by custom made bolts and nuts manufactured in the hometown of Sizar Alexis. Material: Blackened with burning linseed oil on steel.