Woodturning is the art of securing wood onto a lathe and shaping it with specialized chisels as it spins at high speeds.
Those of us who use this craft to create art and functional pieces are known as woodturners.
In woodturning, an object only truly comes to life through the artist's fingertips only when the wood itself allows it.
I describe the entire process—understanding the specific piece of wood in front of me and designing accordingly
—as “a conversation with the tree.”
By embracing the wood’s inherent forms and the raw beauty of its textures,
I explore unique imagery through lines that are sometimes bold, sometimes restrained.
A great piece begins with finding the right wood.
My work focuses on taking the beauty of wood—deeply imbued with the passage of time—
and reinterpreting it into something new and modern using the lathe.
Through these turned pieces, I want to share the vitality of nature and the stories of the life the tree once lived.
To me, wood is more than just a material; it is a symbol of the profound communion between nature and humanity.
In 2023, Award Winner, 26th Namwon National Woodcraft Festival.
In 2023, Award Winner, Jeonju Traditional Crafts National Exhibition.
In 2024, Award Winner, 25th Shin Saimdang Art Exhibition.
In 2025, Award Winner, Cheongju Craft Biennale International Competition
2023: Solo Exhibition, Misajang Namyoung Gallery
2023: 10th Anniversary Special Exhibition, Chapter 1
2024: Group Exhibition, Yeemock Gallery
2024: Curated Exhibition: "Like the Moon, the Mountains, and the Winding River," KCDF (Korea Craft & Design Foundation)
2024: Invited Exhibition: "Texture, the Aftermath of Permeation," United Gallery
2025: Curated Exhibition: "Beyond Meaning," Mongot Gallery
2025: Group Exhibition: "Harmoni," Berlin, Germany
2025: Participant, Maison & Objet, Paris, France
2025: Invited Exhibition, Han Gallery, London, UK
2025: Participant, Seoul Craft Trend Fair
This piece is a modern reinterpretation of the traditional Korean Moon Jar.
I processed green (undried) oak to be as thin as possible,
intentionally accentuating the natural deformation that occurs during the drying process.
To highlight the wood's organic character, I applied a pigmented oil that accentuates and defines the beauty of the grain.
Production Year: 2025
Production Technique: This piece was created using woodturning, a technique where wood is fixed to a machine and shaped with specialized chisels while rotating at high speeds.
Based on the shape of the moon jar, it borrowed the ink-and-wash painting feel of Eastern art.
I chose Linden wood for its bright color and fine, delicate grain.
The light-toned wood serves as the paper, while the darkened, burnt sections of the wood symbolize the ink.
The harmony of white and dark gray evokes the feeling of gazing at a traditional ink wash painting.
Production Year: 2025
Production Technique: This piece was created using woodturning, a technique where wood is fixed to a machine and shaped with specialized chisels while rotating at high speeds.
This bowl was crafted by turning an abnormally grown section of an Oak tree.
The unique grain patterns, weathered knots, and natural voids serve as a reflection of the passage of time the tree has endured.
I worked to preserve the inherent properties of the wood as much as possible.
Through this piece, I strived to express the hidden, natural beauty found deep within the heart of the timber.
Production Year: 2023
Production Technique: This piece was created using woodturning, a technique where wood is fixed to a machine and shaped with specialized chisels while rotating at high speeds.
This "natural bowl" is crafted from highly rare Meokgam (Black-stained Persimmon wood).
A symbol of traditional Korean aesthetics, Meokgam is a variety of persimmon wood characterized by naturally occurring black patterns found deep within its core.
I turned the wood to a delicate thickness of 2–3mm, intentionally inducing the natural deformation that occurs during the drying process. The dark patterns along the edges of the bowl are the wood’s own unique, inherent pigmentation.
Production Year: 2023
Production Technique: This piece was created using woodturning, a technique where wood is fixed to a machine and shaped with specialized chisels while rotating at high speeds.
