Resin pendant, silver, resin, elastic cord & silk
Ring I-II, silver & silk
Simple and blossom pendants, resin, silver & silk
Misun Won
Talented young jeweller Misun Won was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1979. After studying precious metals design at Hanyang University, she won an international scholarship to study Jewellery & Silversmithing at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2008. She is currently Artist in Residence there. Last year she also received a professional development grant from the Scottish Arts Council; and she was given the Gold Award in Fashion Production Jewellery and was shortlisted for the Podolsky Award at The Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship & Design Awards 2008.
In the last year, she has shown work at the SDC Gallery and the Barbican Centre in London, Bute Space Gallery and Studios, Cardiff Bay, Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham, The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Manchester, Origin, London, International Jewellery London Trade Fair, Earl's Court, and at The Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship & Design Awards.
The unique compositional arrangements of Korean patchwork have always fascinated me. As I researched the background to Korean patchwork I discovered all sorts of interesting associations and links to my own work.
To convey the idea of Korean patchwork I have used fabric embedded in resin, fabric roll printed onto silver and thread as a connecting device. However, instead of using the square shape I chose a circle for my basic pattern as it is a more efficient geometrical figure and lends itself more to the three dimensional forms that interest me. I also wanted to make an association to the idea of wrapping as this was the essential function Korean patchwork.
I have used the rhythmical structures to develop a variety of complex forms on their own or in combination with other materials to make a subtle and varied collection of jewellery. I have also developed some functional and symbolic containers using the 'patchwork' of circles to form supporting, light reflective and playful rhythmical structures. I try to build a structure from one sheet of silver using basic techniques such as sawing, bending and soldering.
Patch worked cloths were developed as a means of wrapping an object or food in a careful and respectful way. The wrapping cloths are known as Jogakbo in Korean, which describes a square form composed of lots of squares. It was developed in the Joseon Dynasty around 500 years ago at a time when fabric was rare, so Korean women collected pieces of cloth left over from making garments to form the wrapping cloths. The symbolic meaning of the wrapping cloths is very important and the act of connecting the pieces of cloth symbolises the wish of the maker for long life and good luck. Moreover, Korean people believed that keeping something wrapped was tantamount to keeping good fortune.
Misun Won, 2009