Sogon Kim

The ‘celestial’ series captures the reactions between materials while I imagine the world beyond us. This is because the phenomena or landscapes that inspire me are consequences of reactions between substances. In this series, I explored colour changes when material affects one another. For example, when silver leaves are applied to hot blue glass, the colour changes to green leaving traces. 

Also, around the sphere, tin oxides are applied to hot glass making cloudlike traces. Tin oxide and glass had a close relationship in history. Such as tin oxide was added to clear glass to make it white and flat glass was made while pouring hot glass on the molten tin. This historical relation between materials is another motivation that drives me to focus on material experiments.

The shape of a solid cylinder is to give a contrast between the front and side view. When the work is seen from the front, it looks like a 2d image whereas when looking around it, solid clear glass around it works as a magnifying lens allowing viewers to see the details.

‘Beyond the sky’ series are made after the ‘celestial’ series. It started from the thinking to show the piece that has been magnified to enable observing details by a glance. 

It is made with the same process as to how ancient people made flat glass. I blew a cylinder and it was flattened in the kiln afterward.

‘Interstellar’ series are made to show the notion of space. It has different surfaces between the inside and outside. It shows the different qualities between galaxies, reminding the mysteriousness of the universe.

The point where topographical and celestial features meet is where I feel a sense of awe. Geoscience always inspires me. I imagine the terrain above the landscapes, below the landscapes and beyond the landscapes during the process of casting.