Shining DESPAIR
Jounghye Park
South Korea

Brooch “Saves-1”, 2024
Hand-dyed Silk, Brass, 925Silver, 110x105x18mm
Dyeing, Fabrication, Caving
Photo : Sangdeok Han

Brooch “Saves-2”, 2024
Hand-dyed Silk, Brass, 925Silver, 110x115x18mm
Dyeing, Fabrication, Caving
Photo : Sangdeok Han

The ‘Saves’ series is a collection created by layering and carving small pieces of silk fabric, which are byproducts of my creative process. Through this series, I aim to show that even tiny fabric scraps, which would normally be discarded, can be transformed into meaningful and valuable works of art.

I was deeply affected by a documentary about a place in Accra, Africa. In Accra, there is an area where discarded clothing from around the world accumulates, forming a river-like structure. Cows were seen chewing on pieces of cloth in an abandoned pile of clothes that connected like a river trunk.
This documentary reminded me of the growing pile of discarded fabric in my own studio-a small reflection of the much larger problem in Accra.

In my studio, I dye silk, sew, cut fabric, and create artwork. The inner part of the scissors was born from my work, while the leftover-useless pieces of fabric-began to pile up.

The ‘Saves’ series is my way of giving new life and value to these discarded materials. Through this, I hope to contribute to the conversation on sustainability by demonstrating how even what seems useless can be repurposed.

More « Shining DESPAIR »

Shining Despair – Taibe Palacios / Chile

Take away the veil of darkness, let us light a fire and we will sit around.

Shining Despair – Katherine Hubble / Australia

Cultured pearls are created by implanting an irritant into an oyster.

Shining Despair – Eiko Nakahara / Japan

In the current state of the world, people hate each other and there are countries full of hatred.

Shining Despair – Isabelle Busnel / France

Human race is doomed. We are destroying the planet at a pace never seen before.

Shining Despair – Catalina Rivera / Peru-Spain

“I’m inside, I’m not outside”

Shining Despair – Lily Pree / Greece

Despair is the lack of little breathless reflections.

Shining Despair – Denis Music / Ukraine

The idea of the « Attention » brooch emerged during the challenging days of 2023.

Shining Despair – Lena Lindahl / Sweden

Half of the world’s coral reefs have vanished since 1950.

Shining Despair – Carmen Lopez / Spain

Spinning reflections on the title of the competition.

Shining Despair – Anna Timar / Hungary

These necklaces represent the duality of emotions within us.