Chuion Beck

Laon Pottery

Ceramicist

©Marta Rubio

A Korean touch

Chuion uses the traditional and manual Korean potter’s wheel
She learned traditional Korean ceramic techniques
Her local Spanish landscape inspires her

Born in Korea, the values and aesthetics of her birth country play an important role in the work of Chuion Beck. For her, sitting at the potter’s wheel is almost a form of meditation, a way of resetting in this fast-paced world. Based in Segovia, she feels a deep connection with her local region and sources raw materials from nearby. She is inspired not only by colours and textures of the land, but by nature as well. During the whole making process she seeks a dialogue with materials, favouring soft and neutral hues, which give her a sense of fulfilment. In her refined and essential pieces, Chuion maintains textures, her objects shapes are round and have a sense of warmth and coziness in their unfinished look. Her pieces convey her feelings and – as she puts it – “my wish is that emotions reach the public”.

Interview

©Marta Rubio

©Marta Rubio

What does it mean to be an artisan in the 21st century?: It entails preserving the legacy of our ancestors and innovating, not just reproducing but drawing inspiration to reinterpret, bearing in mind the world we live in. I also feel that it is key to create objects that convey messages and feelings, to mark a difference between craftsmanship and serial production.
What are your memories of traditional Korean ceramics?: They are an invaluable source of inspiration and when I see centuries-old pieces I am always mesmerised by how well they are made. If I had to choose one it would be the Onggi, the traditional container to store and ferment food, because of its simple shapes and functionality.
Why did you choose to be a ceramicist?: I started by chance when I was still living in Korea, thanks to a friend and I was immediately enthralled, the feeling was very meditative. A few years later, I was not happy with my career and the memory of ceramics resurfaced, this is when I started to study both traditional Korean techniques and celadon pottery.
How important is manual work in the tech-era?: Manual activities are instrumental in finding balance and fostering well-being; to have time to oneself and work with one's hands is stimulating. When I sit at the wheel I feel fulfilled, through repetition time slows down, it is very different from the speed of computers and mobiles, it brings me back to a more real world.

Chuion Beck is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2014