Sangwoo Kim
Sun
2015
stoneware
33 x 32 cm
stoneware
33 x 32 cm
About the artist
Sang Woo Kim graduated from Chonnam National University in 2004. Thereafter he developed his practice as an Onggi master in Boseong, Korea. From 2007 he worked in both Switzerland and Korea, completing his MFA from Seoul University in 2014. He is now based in France. Sangwoo Kim’s smoked fired sculptures are globally acclaimed and are held in permanent collections including Musee Ariana, Geneva, Fine Art Museum in Slovenia and Amorepacific Museum, Korea. He has exhibited widely across Europe and Asia and he has been awarded multiple prizes around the world.
“In Korea, I had two years’ experience of physical labour and technical practice in a local pottery, making traditional Korean onggi jars. I still use this skill in my latest ceramic sculptural work and am inspired by the round shapes, that symbolise the ideal state of nature. I build simple shapes that open doors to contemplation and imagination. The polished naked clay communicates tactile properties and the addition of colours influences the perception of my work. The glossy surface has a haptic effect that encourages the viewer to approach and touch. I hope to awaken the senses by reinterpreting the traditions of my country.”
“In Korea, I had two years’ experience of physical labour and technical practice in a local pottery, making traditional Korean onggi jars. I still use this skill in my latest ceramic sculptural work and am inspired by the round shapes, that symbolise the ideal state of nature. I build simple shapes that open doors to contemplation and imagination. The polished naked clay communicates tactile properties and the addition of colours influences the perception of my work. The glossy surface has a haptic effect that encourages the viewer to approach and touch. I hope to awaken the senses by reinterpreting the traditions of my country.”