Korean aesthetic sense and tropical transparency.
Stone rings that bring quiet strength
From June 26 (Friday) to July 5 (Sunday), 2026, MIN GALLERY will hold a special exhibition on the theme of "Formation" featuring 5 artists and 2 collectors.
In this exhibition, artists who create works using stones and metals as motifs, photographers who meticulously capture the expressions and nuances of soil, and collectors of rare fine minerals and fossils will convey the charm and power of things formed from natural products, each with their own sensibilities and methods.
Stones, earth, fossils, and metals. When viewed through the eyes of an artist, they convey unexpected beauty and intensity to the viewer. Everything is a message from nature, and perhaps they can be called translators.
This time, we visited the studio of Song Ji-won, a contemporary jewelry artist who is the only international participant, in Seoul.
Stones in production, rough stones waiting to be touched by the artist, and tools. Song Ji-won's simple and unadorned aesthetic sense seems to dwell even in the cluttered workbench.
A mysterious studio in a residential area of Seoul
When traveling in Korea, do you ever get a sense of déjà vu? Perhaps it feels like the office district of Tokyo, or a temple in Kyoto, or perhaps it takes you back in time to your university campus. On this day, in the full bloom of spring, the landscape of the old residential area I saw on the way to contemporary jewelry artist Song Ji-won's studio reminded me of a nostalgic Japanese film.
Song is 32 years old and studied art and design at universities and graduate schools in Seoul. Upon entering a detached house through the gate, I found a space filled with metal craft objects and works in progress. I learned that it was the home of Ryu Young-hee, a renowned metal craft artist, and one room in it served as Song's studio. "The school I attended was nearby. I was thinking it would be nice to have a place to work near the campus when I had the opportunity to rent this space," Song told me.
The detached house was filled with metal works, but Song's small studio had a different atmosphere; it was a space that could only be called a "stone workshop." On the workbench and shelves, many stones of various colors and shapes were lined up, patiently waiting for Song to touch them. In fact, Song was slowly progressing with various tasks simultaneously, and if I may say so without fear of misunderstanding, she gave the impression of a girl engrossed in playing alone.
Her job is to carve stones, not "create" them.
Song's works are created by gradually "growing" rings from carved stones. Each one has a different expression, conveying a vibrant, plump vitality, yet when held, their quiet weight and coolness are comforting.
"In the studio, I just keep carving and polishing stones, sometimes getting lost. Stones can seem strong yet delicate, and if too much force is applied at once, they can crack or break, so it's important to approach them slowly and carefully," says Song.
Song herself speaks slowly and quietly. Her gentle demeanor is somewhat similar to her gentle works. However, when I picked up a ring with pale colors that was displayed there, I was startled. The texture and weight of the stone were different from what I had imagined.
The overwhelming impact came from its weight. The pleasant, subtle heaviness conveyed the stone's presence. Then, there was a quiet coolness and a moist texture felt at the fingertips. The combination of these elements defines Song Ji-won's rings, and when worn, they seem to be mysterious living beings that absorb ambient light and faintly glow.
"Almost all of my works are made of stone. The creation process begins with acquiring the raw stone. Even if it ultimately becomes a small ring, it won't be a good piece if the stone itself isn't good. So, discerning the stone is very important. It might sound like a strange expression, but I don't 'create' works. I converse with the stone, gradually carve out a message that lies deep within it, and finish it into a visible form; that's the image I have when I approach my work," says Song.
The air, water, light, and sea I experienced in Fiji changed me.
Song dedicates herself to her work almost every day at the residence of Ryu Young-hee, a renowned Korean metal craft artist. It is a tranquil space where Ryu's metal materials and works, a room where the two enjoy tea, art, books, and Ryu's beloved dog coexist.
Puffy hemispherical shapes, emerald-cut forms with sharp edges, simple thin rings, signet rings, and cigar-like rings. Song's rings, carved from a single stone, are mysteriously captivating in their simplicity, no matter how long you gaze at them. When they catch the light, they create fluctuating shadows, and when held up, faint inclusions can be found within. It's as if the principle that "stones are products of the earth" is reaffirmed.
Where did Song's unique style come from? As I listened to her story, it seems that her life in the tropics during her junior high school years had an influence.
"Around the time I entered junior high school, my parents asked me, 'Would you like to study abroad?' And they showed me pictures of Fiji. I intuitively thought it might be a good idea, so I stayed there for about two and a half years as a homestay student. The school I attended had many Australians, Indians, Koreans, and Polynesians from neighboring island nations, and the language used was English. It was challenging, but more than that, it was enjoyable. And the beauty of nature also left a strong impression on me. The sea, the sky, the wind, the greenery, everything was filled with transparency and sparkled," says Song.
My carefree teenage years are connected to my current work.
The crystal ring, while simple, illuminates its surroundings with a presence and gentleness like the moon. In a bottle placed on the workbench, fragments of stone produced during the creation process were carefully collected.
Another thing that seems to have influenced Song's current artistic activities during her time in Fiji is the liberal school atmosphere.
"Looking back, it was a quirky school. Although it wasn't an art school, we made our own books and notebooks. We even made our own clothes. We went on excursions to nearby islands by boat with our classmates. Because of those experiences, I grew to love making things and chatting with strangers," says Song.
After returning to Korea, Song had no intention of attending a conventional school and instead enrolled in an alternative school that focused on art education. There, she met trusted teachers and gradually built her own unique worldview.
"My teacher told me I could decorate the classroom however I liked, so I once used a lot of colored paper to decorate it like a jungle. I made many paper monkeys and hung them up. I can't forget the surprised look on my teacher's face," says Song, recalling the memory with amusement. By this time, it seems that her identity as an artist had already begun to blossom.
After that, Song pursued art without resisting the inner voice to "create." However, it was much later that she started working with stones. Song's interests fluctuated across various fields such as metal crafts and fashion, eventually leading her to stones.
"I majored in jewelry design in graduate school. There was an environment there that taught stone carving. There were only a few places in Korea, and my school was the most advanced. There, I learned the basics of stones, such as cabochon cuts and brilliant cuts," says Song.
The 30 rings, a representative work born from her graduation project.
Crystal fragments created during the production of rings. These are polished into spheres and carefully connected one by one to form a necklace. The motif is ancient accessories from her favorite history museum. This modern jewelry was created by combining sustainable ideas and deep historical knowledge.
She studied art and design and even had experience working for a fashion company. One day, after about a year of working, Song said, "While earning money was fun, I couldn't escape the desire to immerse myself in creation, and I felt an imbalance, as if two people resided within me." Behind her girlishness, she possesses a calmness that allows her to return to a neutral position even after "detours in life." She eventually resigned and re-entered graduate school to study jewelry design from scratch. Although her progress is slow and not straightforward, she shows the strength to steadily explore her own path.
During her time in graduate school, Song presented 30 types of stone rings. This series, named "30 RINGS," won an award at "Talente," a competition for young artists held at the Munich Craft Fair in Germany. It was Song's graduation project and continues to evolve and deepen, growing like a living creature, as one of her代表作品 (representative works).
Life and art creation are an endless journey of self-discovery.
The most important thing for Song's artistic activities is how to acquire good rough stones. She lovingly showed me a citrine raw stone about the size of a fist. What will emerge from the deep yellow luster remains to be seen.
There's another thing that relentlessly captivates Song's heart. It's the ornaments left by nameless artisans of ancient times and the words of researchers who documented them in their books. Throughout the interview, references to literary works and visits to museums frequently came up, conveying how Song perceives the existence of jewelry across a long timeline.
This scholarly curiosity is also reflected in her works. Rather than mere whims, there are numerous designs that reveal respect for the past and insatiable curiosity at every turn. Through natural materials like stone, they give the impression of creative spirit nurtured by the artist's hand.
"The feelings I have for stones are probably affection and a desire to cherish them. They are not just materials," says Song. Her contributions to this exhibition include not only the "30 RINGS" series but also her recent signet rings and cigar rings. The designs with small carved letters are a new frontier for Song. Please come and see these gentle and soft stones that reflect Song's journey.
In addition to crystal, agate and lapis lazuli also appear. Song's new challenges can be felt in the small carved letters.
➖
Formation
— Process and Form —
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Jiwon Song
Born in Seoul in 1993, she graduated from Wonkwang University's College of Fine Arts and completed her master's degree at Kookmin University's Graduate School of Design. While in graduate school, she was selected for various exhibitions and competitions, including the "Itami International Craft Exhibition" (2019), "TALENTE" (2020), and the "Cheongju International Craft Competition" (2021). Her "30 Rings" series, which originated from her graduation project, has since continued to evolve with various nuances and is one of her representative works. She continues to create stone jewelry that blurs the boundaries with nature.
text by mayuko yamaguchi
photo by yumiko miyahama