Sung Youl Park
Ottchil artist
“Organic matter flowing down from the deep wounds of a tree comes down like lines, accumulating slowly and solidifying as it adapts to the surrounding environment, creating new forms. These organic materials accumulated over a long time, harden into various shapes.”
Majoring in the Korean ottchil lacquer technique at Pai Chai University, Daejeon, South Korea, Sung Youl Park divides his time between creating, collaborating on artistic projects and teaching. He is currently running his own workshop focusing on the traditional Korean lacquer, ottchil.
Over time, Sung Youl Park, has noticed a uniformity in the finished works, despite the variety of traditional techniques. Seeking to innovate, he experimented with ottchil beyond its conventional use as a finish for materials like wood, metal, and ceramics, aiming to exploit its structural potential.
Challenging the standard methods, Park deconstructed the traditional ottchil process and pursued a new form of expression, hence developing a “lacquer stretching” technique. His reimagined approach led to a radical change in his creations, distinguishing them from typical ottchil artifacts.
Park’s unique ottchil objects stand out with their intricate, interwoven lines that, though fragile individually, collectively form robust shapes that embody his innovative vision in ottchil craftsmanship.
Education
2008 MFA in Pai Chai University, Daejeon, South Korea
2004 BFA in Pai Chai University, Daejeon, South Korea
Selected Awards and Collections
2022 Seoul Museum of Craft collection, South Korea
2020 Finalist, LOEWE Craft Prize
LOEWE Foundation collection, Spain
Excellence Award, Craft Trend Fair Prize, South Korea
2019 Grand Prize Winner, Cheongju Craft Biennale Competition, South Korea
2017 Special Recognition, Korean Ottchil Craft Prize, South Korea
