Featuring three artists working in jewellery and glass, Creating Korea celebrates the ways in which makers are melding tradition and innovation, taking inspiration from Korean techniques to create a bold, hybridised vision of contemporary craft in Britain.
Glass artist Choi Keeryong has drawn much of his practice from study of traditional British ceramics, combining techniques associated with glassblowing and an inlaid colouring. This approach was developed during his PhD research and is inspired by ancient Korean ‘Saggam’ pottery techniques. The combination of blown glass with the locally manufactured porcelain elements also reflect Keeryong’s immigrant experience in Scotland: the juxtaposition between British pottery and Korean glass enables Keeryong to explore how the ambiguity of an individual’s cultural interpretation can help to create the state of “uncanni-ness’ in the viewer’s visual experiences.
Jeweller Hendrike Barz-Meltzer has always been inspired by Japanese and Korean aesthetics, creating pared-back, abstract compositions that riff on the off-centre and the asymmetrical. It was her incorporation of the ancient Keum-boo technique, however, that deepened her interest in Korean techniques and how they could be integrated into a sustainable practice. Her belief that an ethical working practice should not be a novelty, but the norm for every business, is at the centre of her adoption of Keum-boo. Intricate gold patterns can be creating using the gilding method, in which gold foil is applied using high heat, cutting out the need for the harsh chemicals associated with goldplating process. Her latest collection uses Keum-boo to decorative effect in jewellery pieces adorned with golden olive branches that feel both classical and modern.
Jung Ji Kim reinterprets traditional Korean textile techniques, through their incorporation into a contemporary jewellery design practice. In recent work, Kim explores the rich tradition of Korean basket weaving called "Wancho. (완초莞草)" Traditionally using plant stems, Kim instead experiments with dyed fishing line and paper string, intertwining age old techniques with modern materials to evoke a sense of cultural heritage through a contemporary lens. In addition to using precious metals, Kim creates large-scale pieces that imbue sculptural value by utilising modern materials like silicone and woven stainless steel mesh. Through the act of wearing and interacting with these pieces, wearers become part of a narrative that bridges the past and the present, fostering a deeper appreciation for the craft and its enduring relevance in today's world.
Creating Korea will be on show in the gallery from the 6th - 24th of August.
