Arena - The Game of Chess by Material Immaterial
Arena is our interpretation of the age-old game of chess.
The design of the board is inspired from the architecture of Roman amphitheaters, where spectators would gather to watch the clash between the gladiators. The chessmen wear an architectural armor, each representing their position in the army.
While two powerful armies battle, we imagine a horde of spectators gather on the concrete stands of the Arena. The game begins at dawn with the first ray of light hitting the marked floor where the chessmen on both the sides hold ground and take positions for the action to start.
What is particularly fascinating apart from the game, is the play of shadows that unveils itself on the stands and the armors of the chessmen with changing daylight.
It will be intriguing to strategically place the arena near a window where the dramatic play of light and shadows can be experienced through the day.
So ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Arena!
Dimensions : 304mm x 304mm x 40mm (W x D x H)
Materials: Concrete
Weight: 2770 Grams
Note: 'Arena' comes as a set of The Chess board and 16 chessmen each in Light and Dark Grey shades.
MIM studio uses a high density, high performance custom concrete mix which is resistant to weathering. As concrete is a composite material, each piece will be slightly different in terms of colour and texture and pores. Also over time concrete products will undergo slight efflorescence. This natural occurrence can be mitigated by frequent use. Furthermore in time concrete items do become darker as they interact with moisture and air.Reclaimed Teak wood has been used for all our products, so certain features of its earlier use will be visible. The wood has been finished with linseed oil. The metal used in cufflinks is Sterling silver (925 Grade).
Avoid storing the products in humid or wet environments since water will penetrate the pores of the concrete and stain. Although they use dense mix concrete, chipping is possible if dropped or when the product makes contact with certain hard surfaces. To avoid chipping please handle the product with care and place them on soft surfaces. Our Concrete items do not require any special maintenance. Dry dusting if required with clean fibre cloth or a soft brush. For Cufflinks we have used Silver which oxidises over time, so necessary care to be taken.
All the products usually ship within 7 days of placing the order.
No refunds or returns on art sales
Material immaterial studio is built on the basic principles of bare beauty of materials. They are essentially minimalist, their designs do not offer any utopian prescriptions, rather the approach has always been of what to leave out, rather than what to put in. This reduction process is what takes them through a mirror, emerging out on the other side to discover richness, like in the subtle differences between five shades of white and the sense of release that comes from allowing space to be unencumbered by visual distractions.