Bench

A woodcarver who learnt his craft apprenticing
for San Franciscan furniture makers, Julian Watts combines contemporary art with traditional woodcraft. Schooled in contemporary installation art at Oregon University, he has since turned his hand to sculpture inside his own studio in Oakland, California.
This playful reinterpretation of the utilitarian bench explores the poetic history of shared seating. Watts is mystified by the way the bench has been central
to spiritual gatherings, shared meals, and communal intimacy, and by turns, an iconic fixture of waiting and introspection. Carved from maple wood, the irregular surface is spotted with pink-coloured cavities inviting the touch of investigative fingers.
His use of anatomical contours gives the bench
an abstract human-like appearance, encouraging visceral inquiry. Creating a place of contemplative interaction illuminates the strain between the hyper-connectivity, isolation, and intimacy that define our modern age.