The Primitive Line: Industrial Archaeology

Industrial Archaeology

JUYUN’s work explores the collision between the cold, discarded remnants of industrial infrastructure and the slow, meticulous tradition of Korean Ottchil (lacquer craft). As a designer based in the Netherlands with a Korean background, JUYUN is interested in the aesthetic and philosophical value that emerges when these two contrasting worlds meet. Through ‘The Primitive Line: Industrial Archaeology,’ JUYUN observes the structural and primitive beauty hidden within the mass-produced world, finding objects that are often overlooked—discarded industrial molds, cisterns, and lighting fixtures—and re-contextualizing them into functional furniture and objects of lasting value.

JUYUN’s core methodology is what she calls ‘modern archaeology.’ Using the centuries-old Ottchil technique, JUYUN applies seven or more layers of lacquer onto industrial forms. Lacquer is a powerful preservative that has allowed artifacts to survive for thousands of years. This process is more than a surface finish; it is an act of preserving the structure itself. JUYUN focuses on industrial molds—often treated as disposable intermediaries—and elevates these temporary forms into permanent ‘Furniture-Sculpture.'