Artist Statement
I am a South Korean artist based in Edinburgh. In 2021, I was awarded an MFA Glass from Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh. My background is in graphic Visual Communication Design, with a particular focus on drawing characters. During my MFA study, I took an interdisciplinary approach to develop my artistic work by combining two different disciplines of Graphic Illustration and Glass, Through this approach, I was able to develop my art from a creative, hybrid perspective which is different from traditional studio glass artists. My research interests are drawn from contrasting emotional states and how they can be expressed in glass, a unique artistic medium. I also explored playfulness within my creative practice by taking a kitschy approach in developing my glass artworks. I am inspired by *Kidult toy culture and adultescent behaviour which I use to inform my work. My artwork gives the viewer a feeling of happiness and playfulness when they engage with the work. For my MFA, I developed a unique body of glass artworks which combine glass blowing, kiln-casting, engraving, and coldworking techniques.
*Kidult toy culture: Kidult is a blended word of Kid and Adult and it refers to adults who want to keep their childhood innocence. Chevel (2015) the journalist of the Huffington Post mentions that “they are yearning for comfort in products and sensory experiences that remind them of a happier and more innocent time, their childhood”
[Reference]
Chevel, S.R. (2015) ‘Kidult Culture - Why Should I Act My Age, Not My Shoe Size?’, Huffingtonpost, 24 April, Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/saadia-r-chevel/kidultculture_b_7130850.html (Accessed: 1 June 2021)
‘Happiness Diary' is a series of artwork, which ultimately focuses on the idea of 'seeking and valuing happiness'.
I believe people often hide their true emotions and personalities. There are many reasons for people hiding their true feelings. But, I argue, one of the most plausible reasons could be that none of us willingly expose their weakness or vulnerabilities. For example, in my case, I hide my anger when I feel angry or upset because of the societal fear of being judged by others as a social pariah behaviour. I feel it would be my social shame if I bottle up my anger, because of my South Korean heritage.
The glass dolls in my artwork ‘Happiness Dairy’ visualise my angers that are caused by different situations. The images on each head and body of the doll are hand-cut onto vinyl, sandblasted and then finally engraved.
To express this, the artwork ‘Happiness Dairy’ is focused on venting my hidden 'anger' as a form of self-expression. The doll sculptures that represent me have various shapes of anger caused by different reasons on each head and body respectively by engraving.
