HUE/AM/I – HUE/I/AM is a minimalist furniture collection by the Brooklyn-based interior architect and designer, Kim Mupangilaï. As the Antwerp-born designer’s debut furniture collection, HUE/AM/I – HUE/I/AM  is an exploration and rediscovery of Mupangilaï’s Belgian and Congolese cross-cultural identity.

The collection features seven designs and utilizes a material palette reflective of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s distinctive ecology and culture. Incorporating materials such as teak, stone, rattan, and banana fiber into the collection, each of these elements tells a story. The rattan, used in pieces such as the Mwasi armoire, Bina table, or Brazza screen nods to the material’s traditional use in Congolese baskets, rugs, and textiles, while the banana fiber used in pieces such as the Mayi bench references banana leaves, typically used in cooking and serving in various parts of Africa. Meanwhile, a generous use of teakwood and stone throughout the collection pays homage to the country’s rich natural resources. 

While the distinct use of natural materials grounds the designs, organic forms offer an air of playfulness and intrigue. The exaggerated curves and rotund shapes throughout the collection echo beautiful silhouettes and elegant motions, as themes such as femininity and movement are also explored. The terms Mwasi, meaning “woman”, and Bina which translates to “dance” recurringly appear in the names of each piece, reflecting Mupangilaï’s reverent exploration of place, history, and culture.

At once sumptuous and functional, HUE/AM/I – HUE/I/AM is a physical manifestation of Mupangilaï’s meditative journey of rediscovering one’s heritage and is a collection that provokes viewers’ exploration of their own lineages.