Yoonjung Choi received from Mihaela Ion, Revista Atelierul’s award during Romanian Jewelry Week 2024. Her work obviously stood out among the talented participants, and it’s wonderful that we had the opportunity to recognize such impressive craftsmanship in the jewelry-making community. Today, we are presenting her brand, her story and the jewelry that impressed us.
My decision in awarding her: „I chose this designer because I appreciate the unique style she brings to her creations, which resonates with my vision and aesthetic preferences. It is, from my point of view, an elegant style, well contoured, easy to match with any outfit and capable of providing forms of expression for those who wear the creations. The designer’s professional approach is evident in their adherence to clearly defined terms, showcasing a commitment to clarity and precision that enhances the overall effectiveness of their work.
It’s impressive how the designer skillfully transitions between materials, showcasing her versatility and creativity, further enhancing the uniqueness of each collection. This ability not only reflects her deep understanding of texture and form but also adds a dynamic element that keeps her designs fresh and engaging.”
1. Who is Yoonjung Choi 최 윤정 ? Can you tell me a couple of words about yourself?
Hello, I am Yoonjung Choi. I am creating a warm home in Seoul, Korea, with my husband and 9-year-old daughter, while working in the world of creative jewelry. Every day, I seek new inspiration in my small and precious personal studio, exploring the beauty of metalcraft. After studying jewelry design and metalcraft and completing my doctoral program at Hongik University, I have been continuing my creative work, showcasing my pieces in exhibitions both domestically and internationally. I also teach students, finding great fulfillment in imparting the beauty and creativity of art to them. I love embedding my experiences and stories in my work. My creations are connected to my life, and every process of jewelry creation and craftsmanship is intertwined with my daily life. Through my pieces, I endeavor to convey the warm vitality and life stories I imagine.
Yoonjung Choi 최 윤정
2. How did you start your creative business?
I have been consistently working on jewelry since graduating from university. I studied jewelry design and metalcraft at Hongik University in Korea and obtained my doctoral degree in 2022. I have been pursuing independent work for over 10 years, starting with my first solo jewelry exhibition held in 2013.
My first solo exhibition in 2013.
My first solo exhibition in 2013
3. What are the values for your creations? What was the moment that defined your style?
◆ What are the values for your creations?
The values emphasized in my work are the artist’s authenticity and formal artistic expression.
I studied metalcraft alongside jewelry design, and I have created and exhibited installation and object works in the past. These experiences have drawn my attention to the formality of shapes in artistic jewelry and the characteristics of the materials used.
Additionally, I believe that the artist’s authenticity in their work is an important value in my practice. Since the themes and inspirations of my pieces stem from my family, children, and my life, my work is approached with great seriousness and scholarly depth. This is because my creations are akin to an essay that encapsulates my life.
◆ What was the moment that defined your style?
I believe the moment that defined the style of my work was about 6 to 7 years ago when I began to establish my style with the recent series, the „Breath Series.” My Breath Series works include ‘The Sculpture of Volume’, ‘The Sculpture of Volume 2020’, ‘The Breath Pouch’, and ‘Breath Series: Balanced’.
‘The Sculpture of Volume’ starts with the visualization of breath. It gives volume and form to breath, creating sculptures as modern art jewelry. In ‘The Sculpture of Volume 2’, the fleeting moment between inhalation and exhalation – a moment that signifies life and death – is captured as if taking a photograph, framing the pieces of life within.
‘The Breath Pouch’ series consists of works researched and produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It features rounded pouch units that evoke the image of containing breath, and by cherishing the essence of warm breath inside these pouch-like forms, I aimed to create a totem for our return to everyday life.
‘Breath Series: Balanced’ series is my most recent work, pursuing the boldest and most significant changes in appearance. This series is marked by notable changes in colors and forms, reflecting the transformation of the vessel that contains breath.
The evolution of the ‘Breath Series’ showcases a condensed representation of my long-term artistic activities.
The Sculpture of Volume 2020
The Sculpture of Volume
4. Congratulations on winning our prize and the great award from Romanian Jewelry Week 2024, I love your creations. How did you find out about the awards? Let me just say that me and the organizer from RJW didn’t talk to each other about the winners.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the award ceremony on October 2nd because I had class at my alma mater. I first learned of the award through a message from my husband, who sent me a photo with the award details. Initially, I was quite stunned, and then I checked multiple times to confirm if it was real, even visiting the website several times to see the news again. I am very grateful for the positive evaluation of my work and for receiving such a wonderful award. It deeply moves me that others resonate with the story behind my creations.
5. Can you tell me a little bit about your creative process? Where do you take your inspiration from and how is a piece created? Do you have preferred podcasts, places, and/ or songs? Could you please tell me more about “Breath Series”?
The „Breath Series” is a body of work that began from my personal experiences. I became pregnant two years after marrying. However, when I was five months pregnant, both my health and that of my baby became a concern, and I had to spend a long and difficult time in the hospital until the birth. To stay hopeful, I imagined what my child would look like, talked to the baby in my womb, and listened to beautiful songs. (I love the songs of Korean artists IU and Sung Si-kyung.) Those moments of protecting the life within me helped me realize the noble power of existence and the greatness of life. After giving birth, when I returned to my work a year later, I wanted to incorporate my experiences and stories into my art.
Thus, the „Breath Series” expresses the form of breath, symbolizing invisible life through rounded shapes. I pictured a small life contained in my hands, visualizing creatures with round and soft curves. Additionally, the images of my sleeping child, the chubby cheeks of my baby, the heartbeat I feel when cradling them, and the daily growth of my child have all provided me with immense inspiration.
From left to right: A ring from the Breath Series worn on my child’s hand and A brooch designed inspired by an ultrasound image of a fetus
My works combine silver materials with metal structures and rounded plastic forms created through 3D modeling. The metal structures secure the shape from the back, creating a cohesive three-dimensional piece. This allows the plastic forms to connect, representing each „breath” as a single entity or body while also providing decorative elements and maintaining functionality as jewelry.
All pieces in the Breath Series are realized using plastic as a material through 3D printing. The 3D printing technique was employed in the preparatory process to visibly depict the forms of breath in the „Breath Series.” Ultimately, this method allowed for a free expression of the conceptual images of life and breath, as well as flexible volume representation.
The piece „Breath Series: Balanced,” exhibited at the 2024 Romania Jewelry Week, is a continuation of the „Breath” jewelry series that began in 2022. It was created while preparing for a curated exhibition called „Ars Longa” in Korea, exploring the connection between the human body’s organs and the expression of breath. The exhibition carries the subtitle „An Endless Path to Human Healing,” and showcases modern jewelry and craft through a new perspective that emphasizes the commonality between medicine and art, both possessing the power to heal. The „Balanced” series, created for this exhibition, originates from a deep reflection on the dignity of human life, medicine, and artistic expression.
I aimed to express the form of „breath” through the body organs that govern respiration. The movement of breathing, the lungs, and the pathways connecting the inside and outside of the body inspired this new work focused on the visualization of breath. The „Breath Series: Balanced” holds artistic value by combining physiological elements of the human body, transmitting profound messages about life, existence, and balance.
6. How do you see jewelry in a more and more digitalized society?
I believe that art jewelry plays a more important role than ever in an increasingly digital society. The digital age offers convenience and immediate satisfaction, but it also risks overshadowing the importance of physical and tactile experiences. In this environment, art jewelry can serve as a special medium that offers people direct sensory experiences. My own work utilizes digital technology, specifically 3D printing, to create my pieces. As technology advances, artists can expand their creative possibilities through new materials and production techniques, combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative technology. This allows for the creation of complex and intricate works that were previously impossible. Moreover, jewelry transcends mere decorative function; it is also an artistic expression of individual personality and stories. In a digital world dominated by rapidly changing trends and mass-produced items, art jewelry stands in contrast by emphasizing the artist’s touch and creativity, offering lasting value that can be cherished over time. Ultimately, as digitalization progresses, the analog beauty and the value of handmade pieces will be held in even higher regard, and people will seek to experience human emotion and creativity through these works. Therefore, I believe that even in the digital age, art jewelry will continue to exist as a precious medium for expressing individual identity, strengthening connections between people, and conveying artistic value.
2024, Romania Jewelry Fair award-winning work
7. How do you deal with plagiarism? Did this happen to you?
I have not personally experienced serious issues related to plagiarism, but I have witnessed such conflicts around me. It is truly a difficult situation. I believe that the boundaries of plagiarism in art are often ambiguous, and proving and judging it is not an easy task. Therefore, I make a conscious effort to be cautious. While I enjoy viewing and appreciating various works, I do not loosen my process of self-censorship and verification regarding my own creations. I think it is essential for us to maintain a respectful attitude towards the creations of all artists.
8. Do you have special designers that you follow or admire?
The person I respect the most is my mother. I have inherited all my talents from her, and I have been able to grow thanks to her sacrifices. My mother is greater than any designer or teacher I could ever meet. Additionally, I am a member of a metalcraft group called TM. The TM group consists of my seniors and fellow artists. They are cherished friends and mentors who help me grow. They deeply consider my work and provide encouragement and constructive criticism so that I can develop into an excellent artist. I am grateful to have such wonderful artists by my side: Chung Hoyeon, Lee Jaiik, and Kim Kyeok.
9. What do you think is the greatest challenge for a jewelry designer in 2024?
First, I believe that 2024 marks a period of new growth as we fully emerge from the challenging times of COVID-19, which began in 2019. The economy and industries have largely recovered, and activities such as art exhibitions, crafts, and jewelry fairs seem to have regained stability. This provides artists with an excellent opportunity to explore new attempts and challenges in their work.
One of these challenges is for artists and designers to effectively utilize digital technologies or media to present their unique works and interesting stories behind their creations. It is essential to create new types of jewelry using advanced technologies like 3D printing or to develop innovative pieces by combining traditional techniques with modern methods. Through these challenges, art jewelry designers can evolve in line with contemporary cultural and technological trends.
Another significant challenge is to meet the demands for sustainability and ethical practices in art. Consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues and are considering how the products they wear are produced and their impact on the environment. Artists must also reflect on sustainable practices in their creative processes by responsibly utilizing materials and considering the entire production process.
All images are send by Yoonjung Choi from her personal archive.
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