Namgwon Lyu is an artist and craftsman living in South Korea. He works with traditional Korean ottchil lacquer. Based on lacquer produced in the Namwon region by his teacher, master artisan Park Kang-yong, he reinterprets traditional techniques into contemporary forms and functional objects.
What was the inspiration for your Steinbeisser pieces?
The work is inspired by Korean dining culture and the concept of “layering”. Lacquerware from Namwon has been historically influenced by Silsangsa Temple, where many forms are related to baru, traditional Buddhist monastic bowls used in temple dining practice. Based on the idea of layers found in both food and material, the repeated application of lacquer reflects the passage of time. This work reinterprets the form of baru through a contemporary design language.
Describe your work in 3 words!
Layered. Material. Restraint.
What kind of materials do you use and where do you get them from?
I use traditional Korean ottchil lacquer produced in Korea. The lacquer is refined in Namwon and the woodturning is based on traditional techniques from the same region.
Which conscious lifestyle choices are you making and are you considering any new ones?
I try to make careful decisions when purchasing objects, choosing items that can be used for a long time. Since becoming a parent, I have been thinking more about how to share and pass on a diversity of tastes and sensibilities.
What have you rebelled against in the past and what are you rebelling against now?
I may have been rebelling against the social perception that defines lacquer simply as a traditional craft material. Beyond its conventional role as a finishing material, I have explored lacquer as paint for images, and as a substance that can permeate paper or fabric to create durable sculptural forms. Through these different interpretations and applications, I believe I have been resisting that fixed perception. This was true in the past, and it remains true today.