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 – Myriam Theveniaud / France

Transformation and chaos are deeply interconnected concepts …

Shining Despair – Taibe Palacios / Chile

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

Shining Despair – Youjin Um / South Korea

My No. 1 treasure is my happy childhood memory.

Shining Despair – Arisa Inoue / Japan

It’s not uncommon for darkness to cast a shadow over the human heart.

Shining Despair – Ute van der Plaats / Belgium

When the relentless madness of this world is clouding my heart, I take a walk in the woods …

Shining Despair – Donald Friedlich / USA

For most of us despair comes and goes.

Shining Despair – Eunhee Cho / South Korea

I have experienced two trials in my life.

Shining Despair – Juan Harnie / Belgium

As a child, I would watch my mother patch up worn garments …

Shining Despair – Katherine Mc Namara / Ireland

I have been saving the plastic packaging of my cigarette filters for several years.

Shining Despair – Carmen Lopez / Spain

Spinning reflections on the title of the competition.