Playing with shapes, materials and assemblies, the creations of Korean designer Jeonghwa Seo form a unique universe all on their own.
Jeonghwa Seo chose to embark on a career in design in the late 1990s, when "the importance of design applied to industrial products such as electronics and automobiles was beginning to emerge in Korea," he recalls, adding: Therefore, I remember studying design mainly in national and foreign magazines. He continued his exploration of the discipline at Hongik University in Seoul in 2007, where he studied metalwork, among other things. While studying crafts, I became interested in a designer named Gijs Bakker in the Netherlands. I then pursued my master's degree at the Design Academy Eindhoven, where Gijs Bakker was the dean. The reason I was interested in and admired him was that I had a similar starting point and direction. He began working with metal and then expanded his work into various areas such as products, furniture, and fashion. Furthermore, the philosophical themes of the objects and people he presents in each piece greatly inspired me. »
Metal, a material that Jeonghwa Seo works with in the "Cylinder Series" collection: The start of this project is very simple. I wanted to highlight the appeal of the hollow cylindrical structure. This type of aluminum structure is achievable thanks to sand casting techniques. "The designer also wanted to visually represent the movement of the aluminum pipe, which is cut at a right angle. He then topped this silhouette with a translucent acrylic plate. Two contrasting materials, used here to create a contrast between the rough surface of the sand-cast aluminum and the smooth surface of the acrylic plate." While reflecting on the artwork, I considered the conventional forms and structures primarily used in furniture, and I wanted to give this piece a low-profile appearance by rejecting preconceived notions. I expect that people who use this piece will experience a new meaning through the process of discovering its functions, while observing the structure of the line. »
Jeonghwa Seo applied this structure to benches, lamps, tables, and stools. In his initial sketches, he also intended to explore it through other objects such as vases or even chandeliers. "This creation is very much evolving," he acknowledges, while specifying that it also arose from the combination of several wooden figures. I would like to apply this working method to create objects for various uses, such as tables or slightly larger shelves. »
As for this interplay of materials, the designer fully intends to continue exploring it through his own "subjectivity." He adds: These days, I'm studying how functional objects are perceived as beautiful by their users. If the reflections on physical properties that I've considered so far combine well with the aesthetic characteristics of functional objects, I think there will be some interesting work to be done. "We don't doubt it for a single moment."
JEONGHWASEO.COM
