During the last imperial dynasty of Korea (1392-1910), highly decorative art fell out of fashion with an increased emphasis on meticulous craftsmanship. Restraint and refinement was favoured, although a sense of luxury endured through the precise purification of raw materials, resulting in a clarity of finishes and forms. Guided by these traditional values, these contemporary artisans take the nature of their chosen materials as their starting point, finding beauty and acceptance in both the act of making and the outcome. In 'Hidden Gem,' quiet labour and materiality is evident in each object. That moment when the light hits and you notice a detail, a texture - the suggestiveness of a surface. The works on display are connected by their understated intricacies.
The exhibition will highlight pieces by metal artist Kim Hyun-ju, textile artist Lee So-ra and ceramic artists Jo Hee-jin, Park Sung-wook, Yun Ju-cheol, and Won Yusun. Alongside these will be the poetic woodwork of Mok-su, and we are pleased to present for the first time the turned vessels of the Loewe Craft Prize Finalist, Kim Min-wook.
Image: (Detail) Kim Hyun-ju, ‘Blue pearl’, photographed by Cesare De Giglio, courtesy Lloyd Choi Gallery.
Tuesdays: by appointment only.
Wednesday: 10am - 6pm
Thursday: 10am - 6pm
Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
