Join Seeun Kim FRSA for a lecture on traditional Korean jewellery followed by a hands-on sustainable jewellery making workshop.
Have you ever heard of Binyeo? ‘Binyeo’ is a traditional Korean hair ornament and originated from the Three Kingdoms of Korea when Silla ladies used them to adorn their hair. ‘Binyeo’ was traditionally made of various materials – royalty and nobles of high status wore ‘Binyeo’ made of gold, silver or jade with splendid jewels whereas common people wore ‘Binyeo’ made of carved wood or animal bones. This showed that ‘Binyeo’ was not only a hair ornament but a symbol of the wearer’s social status.
In this lecture, Seeun Kim FRSA will introduce her traditional Korean jewellery project of the Korean art history series to all the RSA Fellows at the RSA House. Using aluminium and crystal beads, you will learn how to make an aluminium stamping pendant and develop beading skills in this workshop. After finishing the lecture, you will complete your unique earrings and necklace for 1 hour, before we wrap up.
As this sustainable jewellery making workshop is acceptable for 10 RSA fellows, first come first serve. All the materials and equipment will be kindly offered by the RSA and Seeun.
About Seeun Kim
Seeun Kim FRSA is an Oxford-based South Korean metal craftswoman and educator. From her perspective, she believes that the human hand is a gift from human evolution. Even though today there are several technologies, handicraft products have a high scarcity and sophisticated beauty compared to mass–produced manmade products. Furthermore, there is an inexpressible complexity in the handicraft world that a machine cannot imitate. Seeun loves making things and believes in their value. Her main skills are delicate metal skills and since 2012 she has made over 1000 metal works to refine her sophisticated handicraft skills.
Also, over 100 of her major works have been acquired by globally respected museums including the Oriental Museum – Durham University, National Museum of Scotland; the UK, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art – Cornell University, International Art Museum of America; the USA, Iksan Jewellery Museum, Byeokbong Korea Jewellery Museum, World Jewellery Museum Seoul and Korea National University Museum of Cultural Heritage – Korea Heritage Service; the Republic of Korea for the permanent public collections. In addition, Seeun Kim’s art history project has been posted to the archives of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation in Germany, which means she is the first Korean to be listed on the Korean part of the Digital Atlas of Design and Art Education beyond the Bauhaus. Kim has been teaching and guest lecturing at various acclaimed institutions internationally.