Yong-il Jeon
metalsmith
jeon@kookmin.ac.kr http://yongiljeon.kr
Professional Career
1990-2021 Professor, Dept. of Metalwork & Jewelry, College of design, Kookmin University
1997-98 Exchange Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University, UK
2015-17 Member of Cultural Properties Committee (Korea Cultural Heritage Administration)
2000-19 Manager, the Website ‘Craft People (http://jeon.kookmin.ac.kr)’
2000-01 Dean, College of Design, Kookmin University
2008-11 President, Society of Seoul Metalsmiths
1986 MFA, Graduate school, Miami University, Ohio, USA
1979 BFA, Seoul National University, Korea
Solo Exhibitions
2020 ‘Songs without words’ (Gallery Wanmul, Seoul, Korea)
2014 ‘The Places of Objects’ (Gallery Maison Lebeige, Seoul, Korea)
2011 ‘Silver Tea Pot’ (Gallery Ahwon, Seoul, Korea)
2005 ‘Modern Silversmithing’ (Lock Museum Gallery, Seoul, Korea)
2001 ‘Hollow Form’ (Craft Space Mokkumto, Seoul, Korea)
1997 ‘The Spirit of Handcraft’ (Gallery Crafthouse, Seoul, Korea)
1994 Myungborang Invitational Exhibition (Gallery Bing, Seoul, Korea)
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021 China international metal art exhibition( Hand Craft Meseum, Shanghai)
2021 ‘Craft Made Space’ (Lkate Gallery, Seoul)
2019 ‘On the desk’ stationary exhibition (Gallery Ahwon, Seoul)
2019 ‘Tea vessels’ (Gallery Royal, Seoul, Korea)
2018 International Handwerkmesse (Messe Exhibition Center, München, Germany)
2018 ‘Da-Kyung’ Tea Culture exhibition (Tokyo University of Arts Gallery, Japan)
2017 Tresor Contemporary Craft (Messe Schweiz, Basel, Swiss)
2017 ‘Koreanisch – Kunsthandwerk aus Korea’ (Galerie für Angewandte Kunst, München, Germany)
2016 ‘Space with cups and lights’ YoonSaeng Project, Lkate Gallery, Seoul, Korea)
2015 ‘COLLECT’ International Art Fair, Saachi Gallery, London, UK
2015 ’The Bowl’ Korea-Sweden Contemporary Crafts (Gallery Bogoze, Korea)
2015 ’Korea Now’ (Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France)
2014 ‘COLLECT’ International Art Fair (Saachi Gallery, London, UK)
2013 ‘Mit der Zeit gehen’ – Silberschmiden Internationale Standpunkte (Gallery Rosemarie Yaeger, Hochheim, Germany)
2012 ‘Private Cosmos’ Netherlands-Korea Art Jewelry Exhibition (Gallery Art Link, Seoul)
2012 ‘Unexpected Pleasures’ The Art and Design of contemporary Jewellery (Design Museum, London, UK; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourn, Australia)
2012 ‘In Between’ Korean Contemporary Jewelry (Itami Craft Center, Itami, Japan)
2010-2 Silver Triennial International (Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus, Hanau, Germany; Zilvermuseum Sterckshof, Antwerpen, Belgium, etc.)
2010 The Vision of Contemporary Art (Artsonje Museum, Gyeongju, Korea)
2010 ‘Sailing to the future’ Heisei Royal Palace Site (Nara, Japan)
2010 ‘Moments in Between’ Craft from the ROK (Vancouver Museum, Canada)
2009 Metalcraft- An Encountering Between Tradition and Modern (Cheongju National Museum, Korea)
2009 Kookmin-Silpakorn faculty exchange exhibition (Silpakornon University Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand)
2009 ‘The Sixth Sense; Contemporary Jewelry from Korea (Fuller Craft Museum, Massachusetts, USA)
2009 ‘Talking Hands – Spectrum of Contemporary Metal Works’ (Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Korea)
2009 ‘Crossing the Border‘ International Contemporary Jewelry (Gallery Art Link, Seoul )
2008 ‘Link’ Kookmin and NASCAD Exchange Exhibition (Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Canada)
2007 Korean Home- The Way of Living (National Museum of Finland, Helsinki, Finland)
2007 Jewelry Conception (Insa Art Center, Seoul, Korea)
2006 Jewelry for Men (Lock Museum, Seoul, Korea)
2004 Four Silversmiths (Monash Faculty Gallery, Melbourne, Australia)
2003 Crossing 2003-Korea & Hawaii (Honolulu Academy of Art, Hawaii, USA)
2003 International Exchange Exhibition (Nagoya Design Center, Japan)
2003 ‘Suggestion’ by 8 Jewelers (Insa Art Gallery, Seoul; Pyo Gallery, Pusan; Korea)
2003 Korea Art Crafts in Mongolia ( Mongolia Nation Museum of Contemporary Art)
2002 Alchemists- 700 Rings (Insa Art Gallery, Seoul)
2002 Contemporary Metalwork and Jewelry from Six Countries (Craft Space Mokkumto, Seoul)
2002 Korean Metalworks (Mobilia Gallery, Boston, USA)
2001 Suggestion – 6 Jewelers (Mokkumto Gallery, Seoul)
2001 Good Design Festival (KOEX Conventional Center, Seoul)
2001 Inaugural Exhibition of CheongJu Craft Museum(CheongJu Craft Museum, Korea)
2000 ‘The Air of Koguryo’ fashion Show and exhibition (Seoul National University Museum, Seoul)
2000 ‘World Cup’ – international cup exhibitions (Gallery Suku, Seoul)
2000 Seoul Craft Exhibition ‘99 (Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art)
2000 Inaugural Exhibition of Sagan Gallery (Sagan Gallery, Seoul)
1999-2000 Metal Element of Three Countries (Nagoya International Design Center, Nagoya; Australian Embassy, Tokyo, Japan)
1999 Chohyung Metalsmiths’ Association Exhibitions (Southern Illinois University Museum, Edwardsville, USA)
1999 Seoul International Metal Artists Invitational Exhibition (Seoul Art Center, Korea)
1999 Cheongju International Craft Biennale ’99 (Cheongju Art Hall)
1999 Metal Element of Three Countries(Nagoya International Design Center; Australian Embassy in Tokyo)
1998 ‘Symposium10’, International Jewelry Symposium and Exhibition (Turnov Museum, Turnov, Czech Republic)
1997-98 ‘Work Ethics’ Korean-English Exchange Exhibitions (Crafthouse, Ruskin Gallery, Seoul, Korea; Sheffield, UK)
1997 ‘Metal+Light’ international design competition (Koblenz, Germany)
1997 ‘Work Ethics’ Korean-English Exchange Exhibitions (Ruskin Gallery, Sheffield, UK)
1997 ‘Object for Commemorative Days- stationaries’ (Crafthouse, Seoul)
1997 Art Clock Exhibition (Gana Art Hall, Seoul)
1996 ‘Object for Commemorative Days- trophies and medallions’ (Crafthouse, Seoul)
1997 Invitational Exhibition of Matsuyama Liquor Museum(Matsuyama, Japan)
1997 ‘Metalworks for House’ (Samsung plaza Gallery, Seoul)
1995 International Design Competition Miyagi 1995 (Sendai, Japan)
1995 ‘Gumgong’ Moderne Geratgestaltung in Korea (München, Schwäbisch Gmünd; Hanau, Germany)
1994 ‘Dinner for Two – Using Gold & Silver’ ’94 International Competition (Museum für natur & stadtkultur Schwäbisch Gmünd, Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, Badischen Landesmuseum Karlsruhe, Germany)
1993 The 21th Dong-A National Craft Competition (Seoul Press Center Gallery, Seoul)
1993 The Exhibition of Korean Craft Council 20th Anniversary(Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art, Seoul)
1993 Korean Contemporary Craft Exhibition (Helsinki Museum of Applied Arts, Finland)
1991 The 1st Todorang Ceramic Wear Competition (Todorang, Seoul)
1991 The 1st ‘Metalworks for Living Space’ Exhibition of Korean Metal Craft Association (Sinsegye Art Gallery, Seoul)
1990 The 5th Korean Craft Exhibition (National Museum of Contemporary Art, Kwacheon)
1990 The 1st Young Metal Artists Exhibition (Gallery Bing, Seoul)
1990 Inaugural Exhibition for the Fine Art Museum of Seoul Art Center (Seoul Art Center, Seoul)
Commissioned Works, Projects
2016 Editor in chief, ‘Good designer-40 years of history of College of Design'(Kookmin University)
2016,17,18 Director, Design development project by Korean intangible assets(Korea cultural heritage administration)
2008 Jewelry Design commissioned by Samshin Co. Ltd.
2002 Bishop Ring and Pectoral Cross for Bishop Kim Luke in Seoul Parish
2001 The Official Trophies of Cheongju International Crafts Biennale
2000 The Memorial Clock for 80 years Anniversary of Dong-A Daily Newspaper
1999 Commissioned Design for Spoon and Chopsticks by Uno Silverware Co.
1998 ‘Samsung MVP’ The Official Trophies for 13th Asian Game commissioned by Samsung Electronics
Awards
2021 Order of Merit (Korean Government)
2018 Bayerischer Staatspreis (München Handwerk Messe, Germany)
1995 Silver Prize, Miyagi International Design Competition (Miyagi, Japan)
1993 Dong-A Craft Award, The 21th Dong-A National Crafts Competition
1991 The Prize of Korean Craft Council (Korean Craft Council)
1990,93,94 Award of Special Selection, National Korean Crafts Exhibition
1988 Merit Award, Richimond ‘Wearable Art’ Jewelry Competition
1987-89 Full Scholarship , Graduate School, Miami University
Public Collections
Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation(2021); Seoul Craft Museum, Korea (2020); Hollim Museum, Korea(2020); Pinakothek Modern, München (2018); Victoria & Albert Museum, UK (2014); Gallery Wanmul, Korea (2014); FOMA Art Museum, Korea (2017); National Museum of Contemporary Art Korea (2014, 2002); Yoolizzy Craft Museum, Korea (2004); Craft Space Mokkumto, Korea (2002); Artsonje, Gyeongju, Korea (1995); Turnov Museum, Czech Republic (1998); Battanggol Art Center, Yangpyung, Korea (1997)
Writing
2006 『Metalwork and Jewelry Making』 (Misulmunwha, Seoul, Korea)
1994 『Techniques of Metalsmithing and Jewelry Making』 (Design House, Seoul, Korea)
1990 『Encyclopedia of Design & Craft』(Misoolgongnonsa, Seoul, Korea)
1990- present Theses and articles on domestic and international craft people and issues, including the most recent article ‘The Dialectic of ornament and aesthetic- the story of Korean contemporary jewelry’ as a preface for 『100 Brooches – Korean Contemporary Jewelry Chronicle』 (Salt Tree, 2020)
Exhibition Curation
2018 ‘The 4th Triple Parade’ Int’l Jewelry Exhibition (Korea commissioner), Shanghai, China
2018 ‘Korean blacksmith heritage and Modern living space’ sponsored by POSCO, Korea cultural heritage foundation Gallery; KOEX, Seoul, Korea
2015 ‘Bowl’ Exhibition by Korea-Sweden metalsmiths(co-curation)
2013 Ornament and Illusion – Spectrum of Contemporary Jewelry, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
2012 The Poetic Object – Contemporary Crafts, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
2010 Kinetic Metalworks, Lock Museum, Seoul, Korea
2009 The Sixth Sense; Contemporary Jewelry from Korea(Korea commissioner), Fuller Craft Museum, Massachusetts, USA
2007 Describing the Human by Four Craftswomen, Korean Craft Promotion Foundation, Seoul, Korea
2006 Jewelry for Men, Lock Museum, Seoul, Korea
2005 Steel Crafts and Design, Lock Museum, Seoul, Korea
2002 700 Rings by Korean Jewelers, Insa Art Center, Seoul, Korea
2001 Jewelry Suggestion(co-curation), Gallery Mokkeumto, Seoul, Korea
2000 Inaugural Exhibition of Alchemists, Seoul, Korea
1999 Living aesthetics- craft and design((co-curation), Sungkok art museum, Seoul, Korea
Selected Public Speeches
2021 “Makers in 21st century – Introduction of Contemporary Craft”, keynote speech for ‘CraftOnLive’ education program by KCDF (Kookmin University)
2021 “The Last Lesson”, retirement commemoration lecture (Kookmin University)
2019 ‘The Development of Contemporary Jewelry in South Korea’ (Rundetaarne Library Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark)
2018 ‘The Overview of Korea Contemporary Jewellery’ (Tongji University, Shanghai, China)
2018 ‘Korean Contemporary Jewelry’ (Pinakothek Modern München )
2017 ‘Metalsmihs in Gyeonggi-do province’ (Gyeonggi Museum of modern art)
2017 ‘DaeKong- Mutifaceted Korean Metalsmithing’ BKV seminar(Galerie für angewandte Kunst, München)
2014 ‘Journey to Art Jewelry’ (Incheon Metropolitan City Museum)
2013 ’Contemporary Jewelry and Korean Jewelers’ (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art)
2012 ’Poetic Objects – Spectrum of Contemporary Craft’ (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art)
2012 ’Korean Contemporary Jewelry and New Generation’ (Itami Craft Center, Japan)
2010 ’10 Discourses- Contemplating on Craft’ M+A Seminar by Chiwoo Craft Museum(Konkok University)
2009 “Metalwork and Jewelry from Kookmin University” (Silpakorn University, Thailand)
2008 “New Generation in Korean Metalwork and Jewelry” (Nova Scotia College of Art, Canada)
2007 “Contemporary Crafts and Related Vocation” (The Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, Korea)
2004 “Craft Education in Korean Universities” for ASEAN Delegates during the UNESCO Korea-Asean Cultural Exchange Program (Kookmin University, Seoul)
2004 “Four Silversmith- Korean Contemporary Metalwork” (Monash University, Melbourne)
2003 “Four Discourses in Western Contemporary Jewelry” (Seoul National University, Seoul)
2002 “Korean Contemporary Metalwork and Jewelry” for International Blacksmithing Workshop, Seoul (Total Museum, Seoul)
2000 “Korean Metal Craft as an Art Practice” (Seoul Metropolitan Museum)
1998 “Contemporary Metal Craft in Korea” ( Central Lancashire University, UK)
1997 “Contemporary Metal Craft in Korea” (Sheffield Hallam University)