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 Crafts, 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
