We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer JungHee Kim about their original and creative Ring design work. JungHee Kim is an award-winning fashion designer, that makes our world a better place with their original ring works.
JungHee Kim ("JK") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Tree of Life Ring. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
JK : ‘Tree of Life’ has been a sacred symbol of ‘circle of life’ and ‘vitality of life’ since ancient times. The holiness in the tree inspired this ring collection.
JK : I tried to embrace a long-cherished human desire for the immortality in my work. ‘Tree of Life’ is a representation of an eye of wisdom and circle and vitality of life that human have been longing for. In addition, I tried to look for a potential and prospects of modern jewelry.
JK : ‘Tree of Life’ is rather a living project. I am continuously working and will work to develop it as a series of collection.
JK : From the conception to the birth of ‘Tree of Life’, it took for about one and half years since April 2014.
JK : ‘Tree of Life’ is to pursuit my inspiration. Since 2013, I have designed with the concept of tree and concentrated on bringing life to my artworks. The texture of tree represents my inspiration. I tried to reinterpret jewelry as a part of metal craft with function and practical value added.
JK : I have the exclusive rights to produce and sell ‘Tree of Life.’
JK : The project, ‘Tree of Life,’ inspired by the nature focuses more on the design intention rather than the design itself. The base of this ring lies on the abstract and implicative values of trees rather than their physical shapes. I intended to beautifully chant the immortality, deeply appreciate being alive as trees humbly accept the circle of life and fully portrait the happiness that I enjoy as alive. Naturally flowing curves across the series of this project indicate perpetuity of life and the harmonious combination of different gemstones represents the complexity of life.
JK : I don’t think so. Since college, I have been interested in the nature. I strongly believe that all designs come from the nature and thus designers are inspired by the nature.
JK : Females in 30’s who look for uniqueness.
JK : ‘Tree of Life’ is a harmonious combination of different gemstones and adopted prong setting to mount main gemstones and only used curved lines to crystallize the energy of life.
JK : The nature of trees such as how trees branch out toward the sky or their constantly regenerated vitality is the main inspiration of this project. Colored gemstones and pearls represent ceaselessly repeated life and spiral branches and fluid forms and curves embracing the gemstones imply the vitality of life and hope in human. Trees represent the life cycles and therefore I name this project as ‘Tree of Life.’
JK : ‘Tree of Life’ is a hand crafted jeweled ring. I adopted wax carving method to formulate free curved lines. I used soft wax instead of general hard wax.
JK : The project, ‘Tree of Life,’ inspired by the nature focuses more on the design intention rather than the design itself. The base of this ring lies on the abstract and implicative values of trees rather than their physical shapes.
JK : This ring collection adopted soft-wax casting method. I hand-crafted soft wax to make a model of this ring. Casting and setting gems were done by skilled experts.
JK : A wax carving method is optimal to express my free curves. Especially, soft wax that I used enabled me to craft curved lines easily.
JK : This ring was created in the hope of breaking the stereotype that artistic jewelry is non-wearable or uncomfortable. Instead I intended to create a ring with values of scarcity and practicality as well as artistry. On top of that, I also hope people who wear this ring truly appreciate the story in it so that it would not be affected by the change of trend in the passage of time. Like constantly repeated life of human being, I hope my ring can be loved beyond ages and I hope my ring can transcend time and space forever.
JK : ‘Tree of Life’ is rather curvilinear without standardized pattern and thus requires meticulous attention to adjust the thickness of wax. However, I believe that the method that I applied is optimal to craft the desired design despite long required time. In addition, adjusting the proper working temperature was challenging as well. At a low temperature, wax gets chipped off or broken. On the other hand at a high temperature, wax gets melted. I paid attention in particular to maintain optimal room and spatula temperature.
JK : I believe that design is a universal visual language. My designs have already earned recognition in Korea and I have loyal customers. I wanted to test if my designs can be recognized in the international arena as well by taking part in A’ Design Award & Competition.
JK : I have designed jewelry whose motif is nature. In the past, I focused on visual representations but now I more focus on abstract expressions and the story behind them.
JK : ‘Tree of Life’ is inspired by the nature. I hope the wearers can also understand the concept and message underlying this design not just the design itself.
