Textile Jewelry by Yong Joo Kim

Yong Joo Kim, originally from Seoul, South Korea, is a recent graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design who makes jewelry out of textiles and other nontraditional materials. People who want to make a statement or who are artistic in nature might be her best customers. I asked Yong Joo a few questions, curious about her approach.

Please tell me about the inspiration for your jewelry.
 
My inspiration comes from finding beauty in my daily life. I think the world is full of objects, unnoticed objects. I find these overlooked objects beautiful. When I walk to my studio, when I go to the grocery store or the hardware store and when I am at home, I notice so many beautiful things. When I look at a single object, I envision how the object can become part of a complex system. As I imagine this possibility, I begin to recognize its full potential.

 
  
How did you enjoy studying at RISD and being in Providence?

I greatly enjoyed being at RISD and Providence. Providence was so different from Seoul, my hometown. The new atmosphere was a shock! Everything felt awkward and unfamiliar. I was completely alone.  As time went by, I realized that being alone in another culture meant that I had to trust myself more. So I was able to adjust to the New England environment.

The whole creative environment at RISD allowed me to reinvent and explore everything. It was a wonderful place to push and challenge myself.

What's next for you?

I love what I do. I am lucky to have found my passion. I am still interested in exploring the value of mundane objects and discovering their hidden beauty...I want to question how we value jewelry. Without using rare and expensive materials such as high karat gold and precious stones, do we still think jewelry is precious? During the time of a global economic crisis, these questions are more pertinent than ever.

I just finished preparing for a show at GalleryHL which is the first international contemporary jewelry gallery in Korea. I am looking forward to introducing my work to people in Korea. (Kim's work is on display at Gallery HL through February 27, 2010).

I recently started up my online-business, Sublime Experiment, in order to explore the mass market. I would like to bring a unique approach to design for those who do not follow popular trends. I am curious to see how people value my products and what kind of experience can come from it.

What do you think about the value of jewelry: does jewelry have to be made out of precious materials to be valuable? I think Kim's work demonstrates that "precious" materials alone don't matter -- these are great examples of attractive textile pieces with very playful designs. You can see more at Yong Joo Kim.

 

 

Comments

[Sandi]

I will do more posts about textile jewelry because I love it, too! Stay tuned.

[Vintage Rings]

Hey nice Idea.I also liked your dedication.Nice posting. I enjoyed reading.Please tell me more about Textile Jewelery. I also respect the artistic people.

[Sandi]

Thanks for your nice compliment! I love doing the interviews because I get to know the artists in a special way!

[gisselle]

love the blog and the interviews!