Shining DESPAIR
Eunhee Cho
South Korea

Ring “Thorn Bearing Fruit-01”, 2024
Hanji (Korean Paper), 70x70x160mm
Jiseung Craft Technique (Korean traditional weaving technique with paper)

Ring “Thorn Bearing Fruit-02”, 2024
Hanji (Korean Paper), 80x80x100mm
Jiseung Craft Technique (Korean traditional weaving technique with paper)

I have experienced two trials in my life. The first hardship felt like walking through Death Valley without a single drop of water, while the second one was like walking through burning thorns. After about a year, I had almost emerged from that harsh thornbush, and I could feel something ripening inside me. The moment I saw the title of the contest, « Shining Despair, » something stirred within me, and I wanted to give form to what had ripened inside me through this contest.

The two rings I submitted embody my inner self, which has overcome the trials. While walking through the burning thorns, my inner self also grew thorns and bore scars, but instead of merely staying wounded, it produced plump and solid fruit.

The two rings were made using ‘Hanji(Korean paper)’ as the main material and the ‘Jiseung Craft Technique’ which is a traditional Korean craft technique.

I twisted hanji (Korean paper) into threads and, using only my hands, continuously connected and wove them to create the shape. Afterward, I coated the piece with a diluted layer of glutinous rice paste two or three times to finish.

More « Shining DESPAIR »

Shining Despair – Selma Leal / Spain

« The desperation of corals shines before our eyes through their bleaching, »

Shining Despair – Aya Iwata / Japan

The theme « Shining Despair » merges two opposing concepts: brilliance and despair.

Shining Despair – Denis Music / Ukraine

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

Shining Despair – Gloria Tormo / Spain

What are our despairs, where do they come from …

Shining Despair – Maud Traon/ UK

« This Mess We Are All In » was created in 2021, a year when the first aftermath of the long COVID period began to take hold…

Shining Despair – Myriam Theveniaud / France

Transformation and chaos are deeply interconnected concepts …

Shining Despair – Jina Seo / USA-South Korea

My work reveals inner conflict and suffering by contrasting societal expectations with the personal turmoil I often experience.

Shining Despair – Sébastien Carré / France

In these complicated times we are living through I feel quite angered …

Shining Despair – Sunyoung Cheong / USA

As an immigrant mother and artist from South Korea, my work reflects the dualities of migration …

Shining Despair – Aimee Howard-Clinger / USA

The western world can be defined by the adage ‘knowledge is power’.