The Bench(L 42" x W 17" x H 15") belongs to the Indigo as Language Series, an on-going project that Ziyan Wang started in her senior year in Rhode Island School of Design that results in the creation of a series of domestic objects that utilize dyes as a transformative medium of surface design and storytelling exploring the duality between tradition and modernity and craft and production.

Composed of an indigo-dyed cotton quilt and interconnected maple blocks united by patinated steel hardware, the Bench from the Indigo as Language Collection showcases the dynamic application of dye on designed surfaces. Each wooden block shares a unique dye pattern, infusing into the fabric used on the quilt. Delve closer to witness the mesmerizing interplay of blue dye merging seamlessly with wood grains and fabric fibers, evoking a timeless river-like journey of texture and hue.

Indigo is one of the oldest dyes used for coloring fabrics and adored by craftsmen all over the world. In different cultures, Indigo craftsmen have developed their own unique understandings, aesthetics, and languages with this material. Ziyan's project intends to approach indigo in her own language, where the host of this beautiful blue color is not only fabric but also wood. Through the medium of Indigo, the wood and fabric breathe life into one another, creating gradients that elevate textures and transcend mere aesthetics. In the design of the Bench, Ziyan wants to present not only a visual spectrum, but a narrative spectrum – the story of how the piece is created and emotions that it evokes through the threads of our daily lives. The dyed object invites us to appreciate the innate quality of materials and to embrace the beauty of the ordinary, creating a home where we are uniquely and emotionally connected with our surroundings.

The Bench is entirely crafted by the designer herself out of a series of dyed wooden blocks, with threaded rods and self-made hardwares that connects and holds them together. A piece of dyed quilt is clamped in between and over the wooden blocks of the seat and functions as the cushion of the bench.