Bae Sehwa

South Korean furniture designer Bae Sehwa’s meticulous furniture designs debuted internationally in 2010 at Design Miami/Basel, Switzerland. Sehwa begins his designs with geometric diagrams to which he adds elegant curves through a meticulous steam-bending process. His designs weave in the Korean concept of baesanimsu; the rising curves on the back of his pieces are meant to embody a mountain, while the gentle fluidity on the front of the work embodies a flowing river. The artist aims to evoke a sense of calm and serenity in his work.

Sehwa completely transforms his initial material by steam-bending slices of wood. His working philosophy is to derive a balance of moderation and harmony in form and function. To the artist, the steam-bending process is a journey in finding the balance between yin and yang, which allows him to experience a connection with the object.