Jihyeon Jeon
Metalsmith
Seoul, South Korea
Recommended by Jaeyoung Kang
Miniature metal with meaning
- Jiyheon creates miniature tools that transform into poetic jewellery and objects
- She combines wax carving, CAD and metal forming techniques
- Her dreamlike, miniature worlds are made with different metals
Working primarily with metal, Jihyeon Jeon creates miniature objects and jewellery that transform familiar tools and everyday forms into intimate sculptural pieces. Trained in metalworking after beginning her studies design student, she developed a deep interest in materiality and in the ways metal can be shaped to express personal narratives. "I returned to my metal practice after devoting several years to teaching art students," Jihyeon says. "I rediscovered the desire to create objects that carry meaning beyond their original function." Her miniature works often resemble small tools or imagined spaces, balancing careful craftsmanship with a sense of play. By reducing scale and shifting context, Jihyeon invites viewers to reconsider the relationship between function, memory and personal expression.
INTERVIEW
For jewellery, I mainly use silver and brass. I combine wax carving, CAD modelling and metal forming to capture the essence of each subject. In dioramas, I mix copper, silver, aluminium, iron and other materials, sometimes adding paint to create the intended design and atmosphere.
A teacher who always believed in me inspired me to create a small gift: a miniature brooch of a toll he used every day. Seeing people's profound interest in it let me to explore tools as tiny jewellery, and to reflect on the deep meanings that small objects can carry.
Miniatures resemble real objects but move beyond function, becoming a unique medium for self-expression. As a child I built tiny houses from hardcover books. Today, creating dioramas of imagined places still gives me the freedom to expand my imagination.
Metal craft offers endless possibilities through scale, fabrication methods and applications, especially when combinations with other materials. Because each artist approaches these elements differently, it allows for a vast range of personal expressions and ideas.
