Inlaid colouring
- Keeryong combines glassblowing with gold leaf inlay techniques
- He trained in Scotland and opened his workshop in 2016 in Edinburgh
- His sculptures puzzle viewers as it is not immediately obvious they are made of glass
Keeryong Choi’s glass objects reflect both his place of origin and his adopted city. The South Korean-born and Edinburgh-based artisan is driven by his bicultural identity and his everyday experiences. His works interpret stereotypes, play with expectation, and, ultimately, amaze with their glass mastery. “I create glass objects that possess a strangeness and do not find a sense of belonging within the existing Korean or British visual culture,” says Keeryong describing his art. He has developed an inlaid colouring surface decorating technique for hot glass, inspired by an ancient Korean technique called Sanggam. The artisan’s works have been shown in exhibitions across the world and are part of public museum collections in Edinburgh and Durham.
INTERVIEW
I like the familiarity that craft and craft materials possess. As craft has been developed throughout human history, it is something everyone feels very attached to emotionally. I use craft to create a powerful and expressive visual language.
The first time I encountered and worked with molten glass from the furnace. I still remember very clearly when I opened the furnace door at the hot glass workshop at Edinburgh College of Art.
By applying gold leaf inlay by hand on the bubbles individually, I aim to celebrate instability and uniqueness. This ritual-like process gives my digitally drawn and 3D printed object a unique aesthetic value.
It is not a popular subject to study and not many young people are willing to build their careers in glass. But, as it has been present throughout human history and it still amazes people, I think it will endure.
