Sejin Bae

Recording time

• Sejin runs a pottery workshop
• He records the time of his work
• He expresses the process of labour

Sejin Bae is an artist who presents a modern reinterpretation of traditional pottery techniques. He has established his own style by repeating similar work since 2010, always recording the chronology of his practice by numbering his pieces. His works serve as a bridge to rethink and get closer to tradition in the past and present. "Working with the natural material of clay is an act of synchronising human time with the time of nature," he says. Sejin's work is an accumulation of time and devotion. His work implies infinite time with repetitive labour and continuous work. "The numbering of my pieces in itself interests me. I see it as a way of recording the time of nature and convert it visually through works that coincide with nature," explains Sejin.

Interview

©Sejin Bae

©Sejin Bae

When did you begin to work with clay?

I worked as a designer for a long time. I remember the surprise of making pottery for the first time. The experience of planning and creating everything from scratch, and finishing with the same materials in such a different form was something truly marvellous.

How do you define your work?

It is a record of time through repetitive labour. Writing sequential numbers on small pieces, and connecting them to form a familiar shape. This is one of the characteristics of my craft. It is an expression of the gestures, repetition and mastery.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My works are titled 'Waiting for Godot' based on a play by Samuel Beckett. The two main characters are waiting for Godot today and tomorrow. Firing clay is like the wait of these two characters. I am also waiting for Godot who has not come.

Do you use special tools for your work?

All I need for my work is a ruler, a knife, a sponge and a wooden tool. Aside from these, the most important tool is a numbering machine for recording numbers. It is used by combining a metal number disk with a handle made by a 3D printer.

Sejin Bae is a master artisan: he began his career in 2010 and he started teaching in 2013

Works

©Sejin Bae

©Sejin Bae

©Sejin Bae

©Sejin Bae

©Sejin Bae

Where