The kiln flame is uncharted territory.
In this uncertainty, l discover the sublimity of life.
Kim Sy-young is often referred to as the "alchemist of flame" due to his innovative approach to combining fire, a natural force, with the minerals found in soil. Over the past thirty years, his work has centered around the transformative power of fire in shaping materials, with the firing process being the most critical stage of his craft.
Kim's fascination with fire began during his time at Yongsan Technical High School, where he first witnessed the transformative effects of fire in a blast furnace. This sparked his interest, leading him to major in Metallurgical Engineering at Yonsei University, followed by a Master’s degree in ceramics at the Graduate School of Industry, Yonsei University. His love for nature and geology also grew during his time as a member of the university's mountaineering club, where he was deeply inspired by the mineral-rich rocks of the Alps.
For Kim Sy-young, firing is a process of awakening the hidden minerals within the earth. He uses fire to create dynamic, kaleidoscopic patterns and colors on the surface of black ceramics, known as "clay flowers." By experimenting with different soil compositions, fire temperatures, and varying firing environments—whether clear or cloudy—he repeatedly forms and dissolves these intricate designs.