Daisy Kim (金惠恩）

I’m a maker who loves the moon.

When I was young, I had a vague dream of becoming an artist. From the age I could hold a pencil, I started drawing, and as I gained access to different tools, I engaged in various artistic activities. Among them, my favorite was knitting and crafting. The joy of creating something with my own hands was an indescribably satisfying feeling.

As I approached university entrance exams, I pondered on what artistic pursuit to major in. Despite the contemporary trend favoring computer-based activities, I desired to engage in hands-on, manual creation rather than using a computer. Without much hesitation (actually, a bit impulsively), I chose to major in ceramics.

Following that decision, a greater dilemma awaited me. I didn't know precisely what I wanted to express through my artwork. Despite participating in various activities within the department, such as exhibition clubs and entrepreneurial endeavors, I was not satisfied with my own work. However, nearing graduation, I encountered the agateware technique, and it resonated deeply with my ceramic journey. From the moment I first learned about agateware technique, I felt a strong sense of 'Ah, this is mine.'

I chose agateware technique as the most suitable way to express my emotions. Colors are the most immediate and effective tools for expressing our emotions. The idea of not just applying color to the surface of the pottery but embedding it into the pottery, allowing the colors to be seen both inside and outside, unaltered and stable – this aspect felt remarkably comforting to me.

Everyone has the color of their emotions. You can either discover it through a prolonged process of bringing it out from within or discern someone else's emotional color by observing. While having a medium to express emotions brings happiness, extracting the darker hues from the depths of one's heart can be painful. However, facing this process is necessary to find and heal one's unique emotional color. Through my journey of discovering and healing my emotional hues, I hope to convey messages of comfort to others.