Simple Pleasures and Indulgences
“Simple Pleasures and Indulgences” originated from two solo exhibitions presented in New York City in 1992 and 1994. The series was inspired in part by several three-month residencies in England and France, where Wendy Maruyama began reflecting on the rituals, comforts, and quiet moments that shape everyday experience.
The work explores the idea that, within an increasingly fast-paced and demanding world, simple pleasures can themselves become forms of indulgence. These pleasures range from sleeping and dreaming to coffee, chocolate, and the sustaining act of remaining curious about life. Through furniture and sculptural forms, Maruyama transforms ordinary experiences into contemplative objects that celebrate intimacy, humor, comfort, and personal reflection.
The series marks an important moment in Maruyama’s practice, revealing an ongoing interest in how furniture can function not only as an object of utility, but also as a psychological and emotional space connected to memory, desire, ritual, and human behavior.
