Dasol Lee
Ceramicist
Namyangju, South Korea
A solid illusion of leather
- Dasol's signature works are thin clay vessels with a leather-like texture
- She assembles ceramic slabs to emphasise the mimicking of leatherwork
- She won an award for her trompe l'oeil work in 2021
Dasol Lee first studied ceramic techniques at university. Her work is known for its highly realistic leather textures on ceramic surfaces. At first glance, the works appear to be made of leather rather than clay. “At a craft competition in 2021, I was fascinated to hear the reaction of one of the judges. At first, the judge thought the piece was ceramic covered with real leather, and nearly rejected my work. Only after touching the vessel did they realise it was entirely made of ceramic, which changed their decision," explains Dasol. She won the competition and has since established herself as a full-time artist. Through works that blur the optical boundary between leather and clay, she continues to challenge perception and awaken curiosity.
INTERVIEW
I would describe it as a 'collision of the senses'. By applying the warm, tactile texture of leather to the cold surface of ceramics, I create a tension between contrasting senses. The meeting of these opposing sensations creates a fresh sense of intrigue and enjoyment.
During a university plaster moulding class, I became fascinated by how plaster mould techniques could reproduce realistic textures on clay surfaces. At the time, I carried a faux leather bag every day, and one day I placed it on my desk and made a plaster cast of it. That was the beginning.
I begin by creating plaster moulds from real leather. Liquid clay is then poured into the moulds to produce extremely thin clay slabs. Using a sharp knife, I cut the slabs according to pre-designed patterns, and then assemble and join the pieces together to form the final structure.
Some of my works appear thin and fragile, as though they could break at any moment, yet they are strong ceramics that have endured firing temperatures of 1250°C. Just as a delicate 2mm clay slab can become a solid vessel, perhaps our lives, too, grow stronger through endurance.
