The Office Chairs in My Former Half Life
The office chairs featured in 'My Former Half Life' mainly include He Han's imported chair, the Bear Chair designed by Hans J. Wegner, and a slightly Chinese-style decorative chair placed near the entrance. These chairs serve different symbolic meanings and functions in the show.
1. He Han's Imported Chair: A Carrier of Personality Metaphor
He Han's office chair is an imported one that has been transported from abroad. Although its design details are not explicitly shown in the show, based on the character's positioning and scene rendering, it can be inferred to possess high-end, customized features. This chair is imbued with strong metaphorical significance: the personality traits of elegance, calmness, and pickiness are externalized through the chair's exquisite craftsmanship, ergonomic design, and overall harmony with He Han's office environment. For example, the chair may be wrapped in leather or high-density fabric, with a simple metal frame, reflecting the elite's pursuit of quality. Its support and comfort suggest He Han's ability to maintain composure under high-pressure work conditions.
2. Bear Chair: Balancing Function and Emotion
The Bear Chair mentioned in the show was designed by Danish designer Hans J. Wegner, with warmth, comfort, and a sense of security as its core design concepts. Tang Jing once mentioned that ordering it from Denmark would require a wait of several months, indirectly confirming its scarcity and craftsmanship value. The Bear Chair features a wide backrest, rounded armrests, and an extremely cushioned seat, often made of solid wood combined with natural leather. It meets ergonomic needs while conveying a homely warmth through its soft curves. In the show, the appearance of the Bear Chair may hint at the characters' yearning for a stable life or serve as a softening element contrasting with He Han's 'hard' style.
3. Chinese-Style Decorative Chair: A Design Practice of Functional Transformation
The slightly Chinese-style chair placed near the entrance is explicitly described as a decorative item rather than a seating piece, breaking the traditional functional boundaries of furniture. The chair may adopt the simple lines of Ming-style furniture, such as the curved backrest of a round-backed chair or the upright structure of an official's hat chair, but through scaling down, adjusting proportions, or changing materials (e.g., using a metal frame with light-colored fabric), it better aligns with modern decorative aesthetics. This functional transformation reflects the show's consideration of spatial design: furniture is not just a practical tool but also a medium for creating atmosphere and conveying cultural symbols. For example, the presence of the Chinese-style chair may imply the characters' implicit่ฎคๅ (recognition) of traditional values or serve as a visual cue connecting characters from different cultural backgrounds.
