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R & Company Presents the Steam Bent Series by Bae Se Hwa

The Steam Bent series 2010-2019 is currently on display marking the first solo exhibition by South Korean designer Bae Se Hwa. R & Company has brought the designer to New York City to show his nature-inspired work, which was first introduced at 2010’s Design Miami/, through May 11th, 2019. Each piece is extremely labor-intensive, allowing Se Hwa to only produce between three to five every year, resulting in very limited editions. Until now, the collection hasn’t been exhibited all together and several of the works have never been publicly show before.

“Steam 15” lounge chair in steam-bent walnut. Designed by Bae Se Hwa, Korea, 2010. This example produced in 2019. #AP1 from the edition of of 6 + 2 APs.

Bae Se Hwa works alone in his studio, almost mimicking the serenity found in natural environments. Channeling tranquility, he handcrafts each piece with a meticulous attention to detail and focus required to perform the repetitive process of bending each thin strip of walnut over the frame. The result are sculptural benches and seats with undulating silhouettes and rhythmic lines.

“Steam 20” bench in steam-bent walnut. Designed and made by Bae Se Hwa, Korea, 2011. #1 from the edition of 6 + 2 APs.

“Steam 20” bench in steam-bent walnut.

Se Hwa only crafts one or two pieces at a time leading to smaller production numbers and a high demand for his work. The show will exhibit seven of his iconic pieces that were designed between 2010 and 2019.

“Steam 12” lounge chair in steam-bent walnut. Designed by Bae Se Hwa, Korea, 2010. This example produced in 2018. #5 from the edition of 6 + 2 APs.

“Steam 10” bench in steam-bent walnut. Designed by Bae Se Hwa, Korea, 2007. This example produced in 2018. #6 from the edition of 6 + 2 APs.

Bae Se Hwa’s Steam Bent series 2010-2019 is on display at R & Company’s 64 White Street Gallery from March 19 – May 11, 2019.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.