Clara Porset: Butaque, One on One Series – Paperback

“There is design in everything,” declared Clara Porset, one of the most innovative Latin American designers of the twentieth century. Throughout her long career, Porset—who was born in Cuba but spent much of her life in Mexico—pioneered the design of modern interiors and furnishings, succeeding in an era that offered few opportunities for the professional development of women. In this latest volume of MoMA’s One on One series, scholar and curator Ana Elena Mallet explores Porset’s interpretation of the butaque, the traditional low-slung chair found throughout Latin America. Porset’s butaque—distinctively modern yet rooted in ancient cultures—demonstrates how a single item of design can convey multitudes about society, regional identity, and intersecting histories. 48 pp.; 34 illus.