GIVEN

낙화

간밤에 부던 바람 만정도화 다 지거다.

아희는 비를 들고 쓸오려 하는 고야.

낙화인들 꽃이 아니랴 쓸어 무삼하리요.

정민교(鄭敏僑)

1697 ~ 1731

Poet Jung Min Kyo of the Chosun Dynasty delicately portrayed a distinctive Korean aesthetic attitude and perspective towards nature in the sijo titled “Fallen Flower.” This poetic masterpiece unveils the profound essence of fallen flower petals on the ground, as they steadfastly maintain their intrinsic value, providing readers with a means to embrace nature in its purest form.

The act of creation invariably involves a delicate negotiation between the creator’s intent and the inherent nature of the materials. In an ideal modern context, the designer’s vision triumphs through a process that brings forth the material’s finest qualities while remaining faithful to the initial vision.

However, in my current body of work, I aim to propose an alternative point of convergence in this negotiation between the creator and the material. As a designer, my endeavor is to reveal the innate beauty of the given object, which in this case is a collection of small boulders, by offering a subordinate companion while preserving its original form. Remarkably, the natural curves of these stones often provide surprising comfort, allowing them to be used as seats or even small tables. This intimate interaction affords users a unique opportunity to appreciate nature as it is.

To further emphasize the connection between these stones and their geographic origins, I mark each stone’s encounter with me through numerical latitude and longitude coordinates.

This body of work is shown at Volume Gallery in Chicago, from November 6th through December 18th, 2021.