Craft alive through use
- Chaehoon's objects are designed to live quietly in daily life
- Her lacquering is a design-led craft shaped by a material-focused education
- She views tradition with a contemporary lens
Chaehoon Moon's practice is rooted in a sustained engagement with materials and making. Trained in product design at university, her focus gradually shifted toward material research, expanding from industrial substances to traditional Korean materials. "Rather than viewing tradition as a fixed legacy, I approach it as a flexible medium open to transformation," Chaehoon says. Her lacquering is shaped by years of hands-on study and material testing, informed by exchanges with multiple artisans. Drawn to craft during her university years, Chaehoon found lasting pleasure in shaping form through repetition and touch. "I describe my process as thinking through the hands, gently influenced by the quiet rhythms of nature in my daily life," she explains.
Interview
- How do you balance function and aesthetics in objects?
- I believe craft gains life through use. Functional purpose and emotional experience must coexist. While tactile quality and form are essential, I avoid losing practical utility. By repeatedly using and refining my work, I search for joy that naturally fits into daily life.
- What led you to launch your line, Damoon?
- Damoon began as a way to connect my material research with everyday use. I wanted my work to move beyond contemplation and become part of daily routines. Rather than emphasising grand concepts, the line values quiet usefulness in ordinary life.
- What matters most when working with traditional lacquer?
- Lacquer is often seen as difficult due to rigid finishing traditions. I focus on respecting its physical conditions while accepting natural irregularities in the process. These textures become part of the work, shaped into forms that feel complete without forced perfection.
- Are there new projects or experiments you plan to pursue?
- Recently, I have been expanding the scale of my work toward furniture and spatial pieces. Applying techniques to larger forms feels exciting. I am also exploring lighter materials such as paper and textiles, gradually widening my material vocabulary through ongoing experiments.
Chaehoon Moon is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2013
Where
Chaehoon Moon
