From 16 to 27 September 2026, the 2026 "Reviving Craft - Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Design" ("Reviving Craft") exhibition, organised by Sun Media Group, will be held at Somerset House in London, UK. Themed "Reflection of the Mind" and rooted in the traditional Chinese philosophies of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, this year's exhibition features three thematic sections—"Clear the Mind", "Refine the Mind" and "Nourish the Mind"—presenting a contemporary expression of Oriental living aesthetics to the world. ZUOYOU, a leading brand in China's furniture industry, will showcase its masterful creations, interpreting the fusion and renewal of Chinese intangible cultural heritage and contemporary design through innovative craftsmanship.
ZUOYOU is a premium home furnishing enterprise dedicated to providing comprehensive whole house solutions for eco-friendly and happy living to millions of families. Founded by Mr. Huang Huakun, who started crafting sofas in 1986, the brand has consistently championed the “Happy Home Culture” for over four decades, earning its reputation as “ZUOYOU Sofa – The Sofa Expert”. It specializes in the research, development, production, and sales of sofas, living and dining room furniture, bedroom collections and high end custom whole house soluctions. For this exhibition, centring on its "Observing the Mind" design philosophy, ZUOYOU blends Oriental philosophy, international style, and practical aesthetics of everyday life to deliver a visual and cultural feast for London audiences.
In the "Nourish the Mind" and "Refine the Mind" exhibition zones, ZUOYOU presents four works: the Shucheng Table, the Shucheng Armchair, the Panqiu Chair and the Heye Side Table. Crafted from black walnut, the Shucheng Table employs the nail-free mortise-and-tenon technique of intangible cultural heritage, drawing on the mechanical wisdom of Luban Locks and Dougong brackets, while inheriting the restrained elegance of the Song Dynasty. Its structure is reconfigured through deconstructivist design, with exposed, evenly spaced timber struts creating a well-judged balance between solid form and negative space. Suited for use as either a tea table or a desk, it carries this millennium-old mortise-and-tenon craft into a minimalist, contemporary form for overseas audiences.
The accompanying Shucheng Armchair likewise features a nail-free mortise-and-tenon construction rooted in intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship, inspired by the interlocking principle of Luban Locks. Its semi-open wraparound armrests are paired with a black walnut frame and soft fabric upholstery, while its open, airy lines conceal the balanced structural principles of traditional Chinese woodcraft within an everyday seating experience. Its versatile design makes it suitable for a range of settings, from tea chair to desk chair.
The Panqiu Chair draws on the imagery of the ancient mythical horned dragon and carries the cultural allusion of the "coiled dormant dragon", symbolising latent strength, resilience and self-possession. Its form is defined by the natural winding posture of the coiled dragon, with an ultra-thin metal frame wrapped in Palace Red genuine leather layered with subtle wandering-dragon motifs in Xiangyun Gauze, an intangible cultural heritage craft. By incorporating a distinctly Oriental aesthetic of power into the experience of sitting and reclining, the chair embodies the quiet elegance and strength of traditional Chinese design.
The Heye Side Table, meanwhile, draws on the auspicious symbolism of family reunion and carries the Oriental philosophy of "harmony in opening and closing". Its form takes inspiration from unfurling leaves and opening scrolls. Champagne-gold stainless steel is paired with a folded, stitched Palace Red genuine leather sleeve, allowing the table to open for storage and close into a circular form. Within a compact footprint, it captures the gentle warmth and poetic character of Chinese home living.
With intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship as its soul and contemporary design as its form, ZUOYOU's presence at the Reviving Craft exhibition in London breathes new life into Oriental woodworking wisdom on the international stage, conveying to the world the craftsmanship and cultural confidence of Chinese home furnishings. Moving forward, ZUOYOU will continue to explore the value of intangible cultural heritage and drive the innovative transformation of traditional craftsmanship, striving to "bring a high-quality, green, and happy home living culture to the world".
Moda tematica: guida definitiva alle ultime tendenze della moda
