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Ceramics & Glass (MA)

Sogon Kim

Sogon Kim received a BFA in Metal art and design while she double-majored in Ceramics & Glass and minored in industrial design from Hongik University in Seoul. Having a sincere interest in glass, she started to attend as many glass festivals as she could. Meeting various glass artists all over the world inspired her to study abroad. She embarked on the MA in Ceramics & Glass in 2018 to work more with glass and deepen her knowledge of art. 


Her works are being exhibited internationally including in the 2022 British glass biennale, the 2021 Cheongju international craft competition in Korea, and the International KOGEI award in Toyama 2020 in Japan by being the finalist of competitions. Sogon is open to conversations, collaborations, and commissions with glass companies and museums, as well as for exhibitions and residencies.



Show Location: Battersea campus: Dyson & Woo Buildings, First floor

Sogon Kim-statement

Celestial bodies in space, the aurora borealis in the night sky, and the topography of the earth… Geoscience and the world of space has always evoked my curiosity. ‘How would it be formed?’ This question fascinates me in the moments when materials are being shaped and coloured. 


My work changes according to various factors such as the concentration, temperature, direction, and angle of the materials. It resembles the world of space and earth sciences, where every element affects one another. Expectations are possible but not accurately predicted. 


The process of imagining beyond the landscape and at the same time capturing the moments of reaction between materials evokes the feeling of showing a huge universe through a small lens. Clear glass works as a magnifying lens enabling us to observe closely - microscopically replacing a macro object with an object in front of us. 


Focusing on energies acting upon materials, provides a spontaneous working method and creative mindset. An exploration into the phenomena of material allows the material itself to create its own narrative. This opens up diverse interpretations from viewers and evokes their curiosity in turn. 



Celestial; Pink #4
Celestial; Pink #4
Celestial; Pink #1
Celestial; Pink #1
Celestial; Blue #6
Celestial; Blue #6
Celestial; Red #2
Celestial; Red #2
Celestial; Green #1
Celestial; Green #1

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.

Medium:

Glass, silver leaf, metal oxides

Size:

235x230x55 / 180x180x60 / 170x170x90 / 185x185x55 / 190x190x50mm
Beyond the sky II
Beyond the sky II
Beyond the sky III
Beyond the sky III

‘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.

Medium:

Glass, silver leaf

Size:

530x410x25mm / 595x440x30mm
Interstellar I, Interstellar II
Interstellar I, Interstellar II

‘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.

Medium:

Glass, silver leaf

Size:

320x300x150mm / 220x200x120mm
Submarine
Submarine
Submarine, Glass

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. 

Medium:

Glass

Size:

290x280x90mm