# Sculptural Sinewy Seating Designer Bae Sehwa is Inspired by Korean Traditions and Beliefs By Meghan Young | Published 2013-05-22 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bae-sehwa References: [beautifuldecay](http://beautifuldecay.com/2013/05/21/bae-sehwas-beautifully-bent-furniture/) & [sehwabae](http://www.sehwabae.com/1.html) Bae Sehwa, a furniture designer based in South Korea, specializes in creating steamed bentwood furniture that could pass for [sculptural works of art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/archetypes). With [sinewy, undulating surfaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strate-bench), the seats are visually striking. Nevertheless, due to Bae Sehwa's use of such natural materials, there is a subtleness to their aesthetic that makes them perfect for different settings. Inspired by the Korean concept of baesanimsu, which means the back of the mountain and front of the water, Bae Sehwa is heavily influenced by the profound role nature has in traditional Korean theories of divination. His [steam bent furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loop-furnitures) provides "a narrative that includes both the tranquil, meditative qualities of flowing water and the strong, comforting silhouette of a mountain," according to R Gallery. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 81% | Activity: 78% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Steamed Bentwood Furniture:** Opportunity for integrating sculptural design with functional furniture. - **Natural Materials:** Potential for creating subtle and aesthetically pleasing furniture pieces. - **Influence of Korean Traditions:** Chance to explore traditional concepts and philosophies in modern furniture design. ### Who This Affects Most - **Furniture Design:** Innovation in creating visually striking yet functional furniture. - **Art and Sculpture:** Opportunity to blur the lines between art and furniture design. - **Home Decor and Interior Design:** Development of unique furniture pieces that complement diverse settings. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Beech Wooden Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silva-collection.md) - [Elegant Wooden Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miko-armchair.md) - [Balloon-Like Seating Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seungjin-yang.md) - [Curved Line-Formed Functional Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-heart-chair.md) - [Bold-Tonal Organic Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pressura.md) - [Simplistic Seating Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hipstool.md) - [Illusion Organic Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/siembra-capsule.md) - [Traditional Chinese-Inspired Wavy Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wave-collection.md) - [Nature-Inspired Curvaceous Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roula-salamoun.md)