Italian designer Gaetano Pesce has accused feminist protesters of misinterpreting Up, his iconic armchair that depicts a woman as a prisoner, and defended the use of plastic in design products.
Pesce, 79, spoke to Dezeen in Milan after an installation celebrating the 50th anniversary of Up was attacked by protesters.
"I believe these feminists have not read nor understood the meaning of my work in Milan," he told Dezeen. "Generally speaking, when two entities fight for the same objective, they cooperate."
He added that rising opposition to plastics, such as the polyurethane foam used to make Up, is "stupid". He said: "Synthetic materials produced and generated significant progress and I believe we can't do without them." Gaetano Pesce says protesters are wrong to see the Up as a symbol of women's oppression. Photo is by Mark O'Flaherty
Feminist group Non Una Di Meno staged the demonstration during Milan design week, after an eight-metre high version of the Up5 armchair and Up6 footstool were installed in Piazza del Duomo in the city centre.
The chair and ottoman are attached by a chain, in a deliberate reference to "a female-shaped body with the prisoner's ball chained to its foot". But Pesce said protesters are wrong to see this as a symbol of women's oppression.
Furniture brand B&B Italia was behind the installation, which was on show for the duration of Milan design week. Called Maestà Sofferente ? Suffering Maje...