MYUNG URSO: SIGNATURE

Myung Urso: Signature

February 1 through 29, 2012

Artists’ reception Friday, February 3, 6 to 8 p.m.

Korean-born jewelry artist Myung Urso had a degree in biology, received her Master’s degree in fiber arts and then studied jewelry making before finally combining those varied interests into the wearable sculpture on view at San Francisco’s Velvet da Vinci. Assisting her elderly mother with hand sewing and the traditional ways for the preparation of food helped to shape her hand skills. The shaping of rice cake and arranging vegetables for winter storage enhanced her visual aesthetic. She makes silver cages that are enclosed in hand-stitched panels of painted silk. She forms clusters of dyed silk cocoons that reflect on nature without exactly mimicking it. This exhibition will open on February 1 with an artist’s reception on Friday, February 3, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Since I have begun to make jewelry as an art form people frequently ask what are my signature works. Signature defines a creative person’s identity. When originality is applied to art it expresses a personal visual statement.

My jewelry as an art expression transforms itself from my imagination and observations from life. It figuratively shapes itself from either abstraction or illusion through the use of black and white Asian calligraphy and hand stitching applications. Calligraphy in my South Korean culture is considered to be an art form rather than a skill. The brush stroke freely expresses its strength and the water-based ink reveals the depth of contextual images. Sewing is a technique regarded as a common daily life skill for women in the culture.

These two primal ancient fundamental techniques support the basis for my contemporary jewelry.  Each jewelry piece evolves in its own way through a creative process that is balanced between shapes and special influences.  My jewelry forms are often realized in the moment rather than manipulated in a controlled way.  

This organic experience might be referred to as a sign of nature – ‘Signature’.