Bamboo Throne (for the Crocodile King)

The Bamboo Throne (for the Crocodile King) was originally designed by Robert Wilson and appeared on stage in Alceste in 1986. The throne is a feat of integrated materials of Japanese tiger bamboo, ash, bamboo reeds, and a woven French horsehair seat cushion. Wilson created a very limited edition of two for public exhibition.

Courtesy of RW Work Ltd.

● Type: Armchair
● Dimensions: 142 L x 45 W x 181 H cm
● Material: Bamboo reeds, horsehair, smoked Japanese bamboo
● Date: 1986

Wilson's take on Gluck's Euripides adaptation with names like Jessye Norman, Sheryl Sutton, Suzushi Hanayagi and Christoph Eschenbach, set the stage for a crisp, timeless and imposing avant-garde reading of classic European opera. Opening in Stuttgart on December 5, 1986, with Norman joining the cast for its 1990 revival, Alceste was massive work featuring text by Heiner Müller and music by Laurie Anderson. From the beginning of Wilson’s career in the 1960s, he has cast amphibious creatures in highly surrealistic settings and this throne built for an anthropomorphic crocodile is the perfect example.

WAITING with peace and darknessExhibition