About
1979 born in Seoul, South Korea
Kim creates stunning works of metal and mother of pearl using traditional techniques applied with almost machine-like precision. The artist has received many awards from international organisations and received the title of The Craft Artist of the Year 2016 from YÉOL, a prestigious society supporting excellence in craftsmanship in South Korea.
Kim Hyun-ju explores the ancient decorative techniques of mother-of-pearl to give a living palette to lifeless metal. Her innovative blue works are made of fine white mother-of-pearl. Just visible, is the underlay of Ottchil, the traditional lacquer which Kim applies first onto the metal. The subtle movement created in the seamless exterior resembles an impressionist painting. Kim uses the natural palette of the shells in juxtaposition, the material’s endless subtle colours and reflections recalling the movement of the gentle sea.
‘Hidden Gem’, Lloyd Choi Gallery’s exhibition for London Craft Week 2024 will present Kim’s new sculptural work, GOLDEN PEARL. In this artwork, Kim Hyun-ju introduces a new tactility to the vessel’s interior through meticulously hand-applied scratches. As geometric shapes intersect the mother-of-pearl inlay, the brass underneath is revealed. These lines gracefully curve around the exterior and are embellished with an irregular texture, achieved through a process of hammering. The piece is iridescent in warm tones as the brass enhances the luminosity of the shell.
