
Korean traditional architecture retains a quiet elegance and attempts no ostentatious or majestic displays. The architecture contains subtle beauty and quiet dignity, yet presents strong confidence. Korean traditional furniture reflects the ambivalence of the architecture. Colors derived from nature, revealing the depth of passing years and can be never artificially or instantly produced. Without overwhelming the space and the human stature, the furniture embraces the history of a building and stand in the corner like a guardian of the house.
I studied sculpture and worked as an artist for an extended period of time, but discontinued art-making. Since then, I felt something missing in my life. One day, I was walking down the street and stopped in front of an antique store. I was pulled like a magnet and captivated by the shape of furniture immediately. It was antique furniture from nineteenth-century Korea. That moment, I realized what I wanted to do. That was it!
Most of my works are inspired by the tranquil beauty of traditional Korean architecture. I focus on combining elegant curves and simple straight lines of old roofs and the rustic furniture in an attempt to bring a modern sensibility to the ancient beauty.
I hope to realize the tranquil beauty in my work.
Inheriting traditional culture you are born into is challenging, especially in a foreign country where diverse cultures co-exist. The freedom of expressing and representing my inherited Korean culture comes more naturally in a society where diverse cultures co-exist respectfully.
At the same time, I take my pride to preserve my native Korean culture.
No matter how long I live in America, I won’t be American. If so, what can I do next? I found my answer in mingling with others while contributing my best of talent. I learn about their culture and they understand my culture so that we can narrow down the cultural gap between us.
It is a wish and a contribution as an artist to further spread the refinement of Korean culture in our multicultural society.
A hanok (Korean: 한옥, 韓屋) is a traditional Korean house. Hanoks were first designed and built in the 14th century during the Joseon Dynasty. The raw materials used in Hanok, such as soil, timber, and rock, are all-natural and recyclable and do not cause pollution. Hanok's have their own tiled roofs (Giwa; Hangul: 기와), wooden beams and stone-block construction. Cheoma is the edge of Hanok's curvy roofs. - excerpt from Wikipedia