CJ Hendry's Pink Chairs Installation, Brisbane

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When looking for a favourite book, visiting an exhibition or meeting friends for a catch-up at the State Library of Queensland , you might not expect to see two pink and artistically created inflatable outdoor pool chairs lounging on the grass. Finding them is just the start of the story.



Who is CJ Hendry?
Modernist artist, Catherine Jenna (CJ) Hendry makes the everyday and seemingly ordinary into something extraordinary. Now based in New York, the Brisbane-raised artist (who attended St Margaret's Private Girls School) is known for her hyper-realistic style of immersive pieces.



When the 37-year-old former architecture and finance student left behind her studies and pursued an art career, could she have imagined that one day stars like American rapper Kanye_West and fashion designer and wedding dress supremo Vera Wang would be buying her creations? Beyond that, she would also go on to collaborate with the ever-stylish shoe designer Christian Louboutin?

Art Unplugged described Hendry's work in this way: It is not just their realism that sets Hendry‘s work apart; it is how she reveals hidden beauty and subtle nuances; whether it’s the way the light falls upon an object or the inconsistency of a surface, Hendry elevates even the most ordinary of things to a level of exquisite beauty, a quality that has made her drawings so renowned.

About the Chairs
Now you can see and experience a piece of CJ Hendry's art in Brisbane through The Pink Chairs. The chairs are part of the growing collection of works by internationally renowned artist CJ Hendry, which have pride of place in her south-east Queensland homeland.



You see, the chairs have found a home on the lawns of the State Library of Queensland, where they are part of the permanent, artistic landscape in Brisbane's cultural hub. They were donated to the Library by Hendry. At first sight, they look lightweight, as if they could be made from shiny plastic and easily lifted and carried across the lawn. But don't be fooled. These chairs (which would make Barbie so envious are made of solid brass, each weighing 130 kilograms, and are part of Hendry’s acclaimed Inflatable series.

There is a bold simplicity about the chairs, which are definitely eye-catching. What's that, and what are they doing there, are the first things that I found myself asking.

Hendry proudly supports public art being free and accessible to everyone and the two pink chairs are a good example of this philosophy.

You can see the chairs for free, and as permanent fixtures can be viewed 24/7, 7 days per week.



What Else?
While the chairs are immovable, you may be tempted to not only rest in them for a moment but also take home a little memento of the art home with you. The State Library Gift Shop has a range of Pink Chairs merchandise designed by CJ Hendry, including enamel pins, key rings, puzzles, and postcards. The State Library of Queensland is located in Brisbane's Cultural Complex at Stanley Place, South Brisbane.

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