Jae Jun Lee graduated from Seoul National University with an M.F.A in Ceramics. He has exhibited widely in Korea, the UK and Germany and received an Honourable Mention at the International Ceramics Competition in Mino, Japan.
He describes his work,
“It’s been seven years that I spend most of my days in front of the wheel.
Ten years ago, I started throwing at university, and now I have become a person who makes a living making bowls.
Sometimes I feel that I am quite good at it, but sometimes I still feel like a beginner.
As I work every day, I realise that I need much longer and much more effort to be skilled.
The way I work, it is very important to have skilled techniques, as my aim is to make good quality things.
There are so many products in the world.
So many things are spread in front of us; we do not know where they came from or how they were made.
We are attracted to some goods because of their affordability, and sometimes we are tempted by certain goods because of their high costs.
However, we do not know the goods themselves well.
All the things that have been produced have their own proper values, and maker’s motives of making them.
Generally, we are becoming less interested in hand crafted techniques as they compete with mechanized systems.
Now, I would like to ask you to have a more active and keen interest in hand-made things.
Everything has its own value, and maker’s care and the value of labour.
I work every day for value of my labour, and I want to communicate with people through what I make.
I hope that people use these things in their lives, and make a deep connection through using them, thereby enriching their lives.
I try my best to enrich our lives as a member of this world, and I hope that our society values craftspeople more highly who play a role as a part of this world.”
