Inhye Kwon - South Korea
Inhye Kwon
Designer biography:
Inhye Kwon is a jeweler based in the Republic of Korea. She is currently pursuing her Art&Craft Ph.D. from KONKUK University in Seoul. She transforms invisible microorganisms into artistic jewelry and metal sculptures, capturing organic forms and the vitality of life. Her work was a finalist in the 1st Yoolizzy Craft Award(2024) and was selected for the Cheongju International Craft Competition(2023). She has had two solo exhibitions, most recently her solo exhibition 'Garden of Symbiosis'(2025), where she talked about microbial symbiosis. She also participated in a group exhibition 'BloomBloomBloom at NYCJW' at the Steuben Gallery in New York (2024).
Collection concept:
The ‘Small Microbiota’ Series was inspired by the microorganisms called slime molds living underground, which gather together and form a colony upon receiving chemical signals. The white silver wire symbolizes pure life, the gold and copper symbolizes vitality and the chemical signals they emit. I expressed the organic form created by the winding lines through the process of twisting and soldering the silver wires to connect them. Just like a single weak silver wire, the imperfect individual forms only form a harmonious form when they come together. Maybe I am similar to them. I also live with various appearances and personalities inside me, and I form one connected world.
