In today’s digital age, we cannot stand it if the Internet Explorer window loads for more than one second. When we order online after checking the ‘express delivery’ button, we get annoyed when food delivery seems to be running late. But even in this era when everything should happen quickly or be delivered in an instant, there are people who still love and appreciate the slowness of things. The juniors from the Department of Metalwork and Jewelry at Kookmin University are able to demonstrate this ability to create their artworks slowly but surely – they would rather work with their hands rather than order quick production from a factory. The junior students held an exhibition at the College of Design’s gallery on May 6-8, 2015. In the exhibition, the students independently presented their first artworks which they accomplished by using the techniques they have learned throughout their freshman and sophomore years. Andante, the title of the exhibition, is a musical sign meaning ‘moderate speed and walking speed.’ The exhibition was named after the aesthetics of slowness and joy of creation as related to music.

▲ Entire view of the exhibition hall.
High school students appreciate artworks after the campus tour (picture on the right).

▲ An exhibition guide helps visitors appreciate the artworks.

▲ Kinetic art: An artwork that stresses importance of movement
or makes movement as the major component.

▲ Artistic jewelries like necklaces, earrings, brooches, and rings.
There are jewelries with unique designs.

▲ Automata: A doll or sculpture moved by simple mechanical device.

Q. Please explain your artwork.
I made a kinetic artwork with the title ‘Falling In.’ Kinetic art means moving art. There are moving artworks and artworks with moving parts. When I started my work, I got an idea from the question, ‘What would happen if I turn it?’ The similarly-shaped black and white acrylic boards turn in opposite directions and create some kind of optical illusion. The artistic effect created by illusion is called optical art. I learned about it in one of my freshman classes.

Q. How do you get ideas for your artworks?
People get artistic ideas from their own methods. There are some people who can think of ideas instantly when they think that they have to make something. For me, I get ideas while searching for information. When the professor gives me advice on how to develop my work, I search the internet a lot. When I did the automata, I watched video resources a lot. I refer to works of other artists and various data and then I synthesize my ideas with these. Sometimes, when a new idea hits me, I change my work’s direction which was a lot different from what I had started but then I get a better outcome. Really, there are many ways to get ideas.

▲ He wears rings that he made by himself.

Q. Do you make metal crafts as a hobby?
We really do not have much time so we often work until late at night. But whenever I have spare time, I make things that I have always wanted to make. Since my major is metalwork and jewelry, I make accessories like rings. I give the things I personally made to my friends as a gift or wear them myself. I made these rings that I am wearing now. (It seems an insect but looks unique. What is this?) This is a scarab that is like a beetle shown in Egyptian paintings. Since I made these by myself, I feel so great about wearing them. (They look heavy!) Yes, they are, but I enjoy wearing them (laughs). Also, we hold the ‘Jewelry Street’ event every year during the festival period and at that time, we sell what we made.

Q. What is metal craft for Jeong-hwan Jo?
The more I study about it, the more I appreciate metal craft. I can find true joy in creating metal craft. With my accumulated experience, my technical expertise can be developed as well. Since I know how to work and clearly understand the direction that I have to take, I can develop and learn much in the field of metalcraft. Most metalcrafts are manually produced so I can feel the joy of making them by hand. I make things by myself so my works are more meaningful than those mass-produced from factories. In case of products made through industrial manufacturing method, not much time is needed to present these products in the market. On the other hand, I have to exert effort in finishing or coating every single detail when making a metalcraft. Thus, it is only natural that I feel affinity towards my artworks.

▲ Hui-jeong Im is standing in front of her favorite work

Q. How did you come to see the exhibition?
I am very interested in art exhibitions in general. I have a close friend from the College of Design so whenever she participates in an exhibition, I go and watch it. I cannot come to every exhibition due to time constraints but for this one, I thought of going as soon as I saw the exhibition banner inside the campus. Now is my break and here I am.

Q. Why is this work your favorite?
At first, I just saw the upper part without knowing that it was a bird. The bird’s shape was really beautiful and its colors were fantastic. The curves were well-integrated in the work. It was interesting to see the bird flying when the handle was turned. Isn’t it wonderful? I carefully observed the frames and structure to move the bird. It’s just wonderful, even just the colors and shape.

Q. What is your impression of the metalcraft exhibition?
Among the artworks here, there were many works classified as automata that allow visitors to see the movement by turning the artwork. Those were fun and the characters like the bear were cute. The brooches and accessories were so pretty that I want to have all of them! I can see how the students exerted efforts for this exhibition. The artists thought really hard about their works and I think that they feel great seeing their excellent works in the exhibition. The panel that explained the concepts like automata helped me understand the artworks. Since I am interested in such jewelry and artworks, it was a very pleasant exhibition for me.

We can find beauty in handicrafts that cannot exist in factory-manufactured products. If you want to have unique items that cannot be found elsewhere, come and visit the metalcraft exhibition. By guessing the artists’ intention and imagining how they made their crafts, the exhibition will be more entertaining. People want things to be done quickly but they are getting tired of wearing and possessing things that are similar to everybody else’s. Like the exhibition title ‘Andante’ provided by the juniors from the Department of Metalwork and Jewelry, why don’t we pattern our lives after andante’s speed? This concept may make us find something interesting in our hectic lives and make our dull lives become exciting.

- Web journalist, PR Team

Kookmin Review Ye-Min Yoon