Born in South Korea in 1980, Sangwoo Kim is a “stone maker”. Inspired by nature, which offers it infinite shapes and colors, it combines aesthetics with touch. He uses earth to form hollow bodies, open or closed, whose surfaces he exploits to bring together colors and structures. Valleys, rivers or landscapes arise from the material as if by a phenomenon of accelerated erosion, and the decorations anticipated by the artist appear in all their brilliance, attracting our gaze and encouraging caresses. A work that is both aesthetic and sensual, reflecting an imaginary geology, which reveals the oriental roots of its author.

“In Korea, I gained experience of physical work and technical practice in a local pottery, where I made Onggi, the large traditional Korean storage jars, for two or three years. Even today, I use this skill in my ceramic sculptures and I remain inspired by the round shape, symbol of the ideal being of nature. »

It was in Switzerland, in 2015, that he was introduced to the world of sculptural ceramics. He found inspiration in the beautiful, round, polished river rocks that surround him. He then arrived in France in 2016.

Like any Korean artist, Sangwoo allows no detail to escape his consideration, neither the curvature of the forms orchestrated with a tiny delicacy, nor the complexity of the structure of his surfaces, all born of a patiently rhythmic coil shaping. in hollows and crests so that finally, after successive grinding and polishing, the beauty of its multiple layers of colored porcelain is fully revealed.

Indeed, the pieces are made with rollers or slabs and the relief is applied with wooden tools and the fingers of the artist. He then applies several layers of colored engobes and fires them all at the same time at a temperature of 1240°C. Finally, he grinds and polishes the pieces after firing and does not use glaze. Through this process, he uncovers patterns and colors that are hidden beneath the surface, and become smooth and shiny, which fascinates our eyes but also invites us to touch the pieces.

Since 2007, he has exhibited in various European countries, the United States and South Korea and his works are part of numerous collections. He has won many first prizes in competitions and exhibitions.