Porky Hefer was born in 1968, in the era where Radical Design emerged with futurist-designed environments and objects that were more than a chair or a table – pieces that would assault your eyes and also your spirit. It was during this time that Wendell Castle and Joe Colombo made units of self-sufficiency to isolate and change experiences completely. It opened up horizons and possibilities that fulfilled more than simply a basic need to sit.
Fascinated by the reactions and energy a piece can generate in a space, Porky embraces Africa and the skills and processes that are readily available indigenously, rather than trying to emulate foreign processes. Making use of traditional techniques and crafts that focus on the hand rather than machinery, his work ensures that age-old skills are preserved and kept relevant in a modern age.
Fascinated by the weaver bird, Porky’s life-size nests, woven with Kooboo Cane, are a result of his in-depth study into this social bird’s nest-building skills, made relevant for a human audience. His work’s progression into limited-edition leather seating environments has further evolved this exploration of ways in which living pods can be presented.
Porky has had numerous solo presentations of his work and is a two-time winner of the Design Foundation Icon Award (2013 and 2018). His first solo show, Monstera Deliciosa, Volume I, was presented at Southern Guild’s Cape Town gallery at the end of 2015, garnering rave local and international reviews. In 2016, he represented South Africa with Southern Guild at the inaugural London Design Biennale, which was followed by a solo exhibition at R & Company in New York in 2017. His Endangered collection of sculptural seating pods made of eco-friendly and recycled materials was exhibited to widespread acclaim at Design Miami/ Basel in 2018. Co-presented by Southern Guild and SFA Advisory, proceeds from the project benefited the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.
Upholstered leather, sheepskin and steel frame
290 x 170 x 190 cm
Unique




















Upholstered leather, sheepskin and steel frame
183 x 120 x 130 cm
Unique












Upholstered leather, sheepskin and steel frame
285 x 128 x 140 cm
Unique












With Schiff Fine Art Advisory, for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
Hand-woven and knitted recycled t-shirt yarn, corduroy, steel frame
210 x 100 x 180 cm
Edition of 2 + 1 AP




With Schiff Fine Art Advisory, for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
Hand-felted wool, polyester stuffing made from recycled plastic bottles
300 x 250 x 165 cm
Edition of 2 + 1 AP




With Schiff Fine Art Advisory, for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
Hand-embroidered cotton and linen, steel frame
220 x 150 x 130 cm
Edition of 2 + 1 AP




With Schiff Fine Art Advisory, for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
Hand-felted wool, polyester stuffing made from recycled plastic bottles
300 x 200 x 40 cm
Edition of 2 + 1 AP




With Schiff Fine Art Advisory, for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
Hand-woven and knitted recycled t-shirt fabric, glass beads, steel frame
260 x 140 x 140 cm
Edition of 2 + 1 AP




Speckled Nguni cow hide, leather, sheepskin, steel
230 x 130 x 122 cm
Unique



