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Minjun Jo

Minjun Jo

University of Technology Sydney

I am currently in my third year of studying product design at UTS and have always had an interest in art and design. I have always been inspired to learn and attempt new techniques and forms of craft amongst all my works.

The Hanok Chair

"The Hanok Chair" is a modern reinterpretation of traditional joinery and artistic techniques that were used in the 14th century in Traditional Korean architecture. I wanted to apply this history and culture into my work as a way of expressing my Korean heritage in a way that can be used not only as decoration but also as a usable piece of furniture. Gaining inspiration from the light and honest design of 'Hanok' buildings, I displayed the transparency and clarity of the patterns the joinery creates/ Symbolizing symmetry and harmony, the piece is strong enough to support weights upto 150kg. This was important as I wanted to highlight the delicate nature of the traditional design, alongside the immense strength and stability of these structures that still stand to this day. Additionally, with the use of inexpensive woods I aimed to display the talents of past 'Hanok' builders that did not have a chance to be 'picky' with the trees available at the time. Furthermore, The patterns I created were used to decorate walls, doors and windows of 'Hanok's' that were also lined with sheets of 'Hanji' paper. As a result, I aimed to replicate the shadows and patterns these joints would create on the floors and walls of the structure through light, changing its character throughout the different tones of the day.

The Hanok Chair