The historical events of colonialism, war and financial instability in South Korea have shaped fear, deficiency, and anxiety across generations, resulting in rigid societal expectations of how individuals should behave in order to avoid stigma. The project explores how intergenerational ‘echoes of fear’ reverberate across individual lives and generations, by zooming into the story of one lineage of women.
Through the use of porcelain, one of the most fragile and sensitive types of clay, the project celebrates and honours individuals who have lived through challenges but continue to persevere. Clay holds memories of its past shapes, structures and scars, which can cause it to crack or collapse. Each ceramic piece has its own unique identity, a map of its own unique response to gravity and pressure, much like how societal expectations can impact and shape individuals.
In contrast to the common approach among ceramic makers who try to avoid the risks of cracking, wrinkling and collapsing, this project chooses to embrace these frailties. Each ceramic piece embraces its own unique individuality, much like how individuals find their own unique expression as a result of their personal histories and experiences.
110x75x108cm, porcelain, epoxy, 2023
Photo : Carlfried Verwaayen
Sponsored by EKWC (European Ceramic Workcentre), Design Academny Eindhoven
Photo : Carlfried Verwaayen
Sponsored by EKWC (European Ceramic Workcentre), Design Academny Eindhoven