Organic forms alive in metal
- Sowon works with the metal crochet technique
- Her material allows her to maintain both delicacy and durability
- The form of the human body plays a main role in her making process
Sowon Joo's practice bridges contemporary jewellery, metalwork and sculptural form. "Working primarily with silver and other metals, I explore organic structures, bodily movement and the quiet relationship between object and wearer," she says. Sowon received her BFA and MFA from Seoul National University before completing an MFA in metal and jewellery design at the School for American Craft, Rochester Institute of Technology. Her training also includes independent study in sculpture at Cornell University, an experience that broadened her spatial and material approach. Sowon's works have been presented in international exhibitions, and are recognised for their refined craftsmanship, subtle forms and sensitivity to the human body.
Interview
- When did you decide to become a metalworker?
- I first encountered metal craft in 1984, at my aunt’s exhibition. That moment was decisive. I felt immediately drawn to both the making process and the finished works. I decided to work with metal from that moment on.
- What does metal mean to you as a material?
- Metal feels both organic and resilient. It allows delicate expression while maintaining strength and permanence. Each metal has its own character, and I am drawn to its ability to endure over time. It is a material that humanity has lived with for centuries.
- What role does the human body play in your work?
- My process begins with the human body, not the object. I draw the body and place the jewellery onto it, considering proportion, balance, movement and comfort. A piece is complete only when it harmonises with the body and becomes an extension of the wearer.
- Do you have any plans for the future?
- I am interested in larger scale sculptural installations that respond to space. Beyond objects, I want to shape atmospheres by creating works in which material, form and spatial flow come together to transform an entire space.
Sowon Joo is a master artisan: she began her career in 2000 and she started teaching in 2004
Where
Sowon Joo
