Thin Man Bench by Atelier Van Lieshout

Thin Man Bench by Atelier Van Lieshout

Atelier Van Lieshout created this “Thin Man” bench as a commissioned work for Design Miami 2011. The bench is in the form of an emaciated figure crawling across the floor. An area for sitting on his back allows for functionality and also makes a social statement. Designboom writes:

By using design as a cultural barometer, Van Lieshout taps into the consciousness of humanitarian circumstances, by not only empowering aesthetic form and social commentary, but also by serving a purpose as functional pieces.

Van Lieshout has been using the human form in their furniture for years. If the prospect of sitting on this sculpture kicks you into a frenzy of guilt and privilege, there is a dominatrix in Williamsburg, Brooklyn who will use you for a bench in a public park. I wonder if she takes Paypal?