I had an opportunity to create a new work shortly after my graduation. I was filled with fresh enthusiasm and optimism as I embarked on this new chapter in a different country, Germany. However, the reality I faced was quite different. I had to navigate the complexities of finding a place to live, securing employment, obtaining the necessary visa and insurance, and learning a new language, among other challenges. At that time, I even had to tick the box labeled ‘Arbeitsloser (jobless)’ on official documents.
Photo: Jaeuk Lee
Despite these initial burdens, I made a conscious choice to transform this unique life experience into something meaningful. I was both insecure and fragile during this transition. Then, one day, as I observed scaffolding erected for a building’s repainting, I found myself contemplating the structure and pondering the existence of scaffolding itself. It was in that moment that the concept for this meaningful project was born.
This project explores the duality of utility and insecurity. Just like the scaffoldings and myself, it embodies contrasting elements: usefulness juxtaposed with joblessness, lightness interwoven with substantiality, and vulnerability alongside determination.
2012
Maple, Brass
135(W) x 50(D) x 190(H) cm
Life a User’s Manual
Culture Station Seoul 284, Seoul, South Korea
Curated: Sungwon Kim
Time to Design 2013 Winner
Statens Værksteder For Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark
100 Limited Edition, 52 pages
Design Jeonghoon Han
Photography Jaeuk Lee
Text Haecheon Park
Translation Min-hyung Kang
Paper 80g Munken Lynx, 115g Profisilk
Printing agit-druck GmbH, Berlin, Germany
Sponsor Korean Culture Center, Berlin
2014
Photo: Fran Parente
“In curating Chamber Collection #2, Andrew Zuckerman will explore the theme of how the natural world interacts with man’s living environment as expressed through objects of design, art and various types of ephemera. Zuckerman’s collaboration with Chamber will draw on a broad array of sources, including Japanese aesthetics, ethnographic art and biomimetics in the service of creating a collection of objects that reintroduce organic forms or concepts into designed spaces.
The new collection explores how nature interacts with the built environment and investigates how objects have a transformative effect on our lives. Consisting of customized contemporary design pieces, specially commissioned unique editions, and historic objects, the collection will evolve throughout the year as a living, ever-changing presentation of rare and unusual artifacts.”
2015
Collection #2 “Human|Nature”
Curated by Andrew Zuckerman
Chamber NYC
In 2015, I participated in an exhibition organized by Chamber NYC, curated by Andrew Zuckerman, titled ‘Human Nature Chamber Collection #2.’ Following the exhibition, Chamber NYC commissioned me to create a dining table for a gallery apartment in New York City. The design of the table was inspired by my previous work, ‘Useful Arbeitsloser (Jobless).’
“Useful Dining Table” is made for a unique dining experience. The design is a limited edition specially commissioned by Chamber. The series uses oak wood that possesses naturally occurring acid within its fibers, and “smoking” technique has left the wood colored in several variations. “Useful” is notable for its scaffolding structures, in which wood is combined and fastened with brass joinery.”
2016
Smoked oak, Brass
240(W) × 85(D) × 75(H) cm
for Chamber NYC Apartment