emerging artist heejin hwang

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Susan Lomuto • 2 Comments

Emerging artist Heejin Hwang was recently named as a finalist for The Society for Contemporary Craft’s 2011 LEAP Award, a biennial award that recognizes excellence in the field of contemporary craft.

Connection
steel wire, enamel

Connection, detail
steel wire, enamel

The competition is open to students and under-represented craft artists. A metalsmith and student at University of Wisconsin, Madison, she shows a collection of wire, enamel and ground rock jewelry that is bold and sculptural. Hwang is one to watch.

Connection
steel wire, enamel, ground rock

“My recent works comprise sculptural units in which steel wire is used as basic material. As the basic structure is needed to construct a building, numerous layers consist of a form in my works, too; this means one’s personality, that is, persona. As I discovered another layer of personality which I had not been aware of, I began to be interested in the figures of the layer and induce them to my works. When a unit or multiple units complete a perfect structure or form, my jewelry comes to life.”