Sowon Joo is a young Korean artist that makes complex yet clean wire crochet art jewelry . looking at her work I see we have in common a very soft spot for delicate wire metals and for forms inspired by nature. I actually didnt really know her work very well until one of my advanced workshop participant, decided to try and imitate one of Sowon Joo necklaces.
My student , Nehama Barnissan, which is an artist on her own, with expertise in a whole different field, papier mache, told me that one of her early art teachers told her that the best way to learn, is by first imitating, coming to think about it this is exactly how kids learn.
Watching the work Nehama Bar Nissan has created following Sowon Joo's sterling silver organic necklace , made me curious to see more of her work, this made me realize I actually have quite a few of her work on my pinterest boards.. the world is flat and small ...
To make it easy on me to share with you her work , I put it all into one board that you can see at the bottom of this post, and follow if you are a pinterest person, who isn't ... ?
Lucky for me Nehama brought to class the organic necklace she has made , so I was able to take a few pictures and can share then here with you here .
so, this the original necklace by Sowon Joo :
and here is Nehama's :
and her first "inspired by necklace" :
Reading through Sowon Joo Bio on her website I learned she is interested in passages , nature, growth , really interesting and conceptual.
"when I observe their transformation and development. Such motives expressed through the shapes of various life symbols are woven with silver wire."
Sowon Joo defines her wire work method as weaving , which makes me wonder how similar it is to my own Invisible spool knitting , but as I couldn't find video of her in work , it's hard to tell.
"Metal weaving process requires a tremendous amount of time and effort as well as a high level of caution and sensitivity. ...... and the fragile and delicate nature of weaving with silver wire represents the vulnerability and fragility of life"
I dont know what about you , but for me wires ust do the trick , I'm completly smitten...
visit Sowon Joo's website to see and read more : http://www.sowonjoostudio.com/
Here is the pinterest Board I put up for this post :
Check my Wire Crochet Patterns section to start learning today from anywhere ....
Sylvia •
a dear client wrote me : "FYI, in Chinese and in Korean (I’m not sure about Japanese, since I’m not familiar with that language), often the same word is used for both “knit” and “weave.” I looked at a close up of her work, and mathematically, the work is definitely knitting. However, your work is knit in the round (albeit with a crochet hook). her work is done either in the round or back and forth."
Nehama Bar Nissan •
Shalom Yael,
Thanks for letting me know about the post, if only because it is interesting.
I have no problem, maybe the other way; you specify copying the necklace from Sowon Joo. I mentioned it myself in our last meeting, and I am enough confident “to beautify in my feather and no of others”.
I really think the one way (in other) to learn practical work in art is using imitation, and I would say, not only in art.
All our lives we are copying one way or another. All learning involves copying and repetition of certain actions in order to reach the desired result.
When we educate our children, we are aware that they imitate us so we behave the way we want them to treat.
When child first graders learn to write, he is a copy of the booklet letters and / or passing on points.
And when we find good recipe (isn’t it art?), we follow the instructions, and this is just a copy, to reach the promised results.
The same rules in art. You taught us the principles of ISK, you gave as the tools. We copied from you the process and then the jewelry created. Yes, just copied. Otherwise we would not change the theoretical study to a finished product – jewelry.
The works of Sowon Joo are beautiful and inspirational. With copy work, with a lot of trials and errors, I learned i.e. to knit tube within a tube, a ball within a ball; I learned to calculate the tube length to fit the pipe enters into it, and many other things. Without those things, I would not encounter them if it were not trying to copy the wonderful creation of Sowon Joo.
From this experience I could design my own original jewelry when is based on knowledge and experience with the work of copying.
By the way, I have to thank you, in your previous post I became acquainted with another inspiring talented artist – Orline fisch. Really exiting.