JEUNG-HWA PARK TEXTILES
Jeung-Hwa Park
[2000, MFA Textiles]
Based in Providence, RI
Jeung-Hwa Park’s RISD Craft Gallery
I combine knitting, felting and hand dyeing to create innovative three dimensional wearable scarves that bring sculptural sense of aesthetics to knitting.
What are some of the most important practices for your creative process?
In searching for new aesthetics of knitting, I adapted knitting with two other traditional techniques: resist dyeing and felting. This combination of techniques express three dimensional surface aesthetics beyond the traditional aesthetics of knitting. Therefore, by combining knitting, resist dyeing, and felting, I create three dimensional wearable art that brings a sculptural and textural sense of aesthetics to knitting.
How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?
The most valuable lesson I have learned from RISD was “sharing”.
To me, the study of knitting is continuous, mutual process of discovery that sets out on a long journey whose final destination is “Harmony”. My philosophy in art is to make people themselves toward visual poetry by offering my own experience and demonstrating my spirit. With this philosophy in my mind, I want to share the artistic sensibility of Korean culture and expression of artistic emotion.
Tell us about some of your main sources of inspiration.
My knitting is inspired by Yin and Yang Philosophy. In my artistic interpretation, my knitting is transformed into a combination of opposites: east and west, traditional and modern, hand-craft and machine technology, sky and earth, spiritual and physical, ambiguous and factual, dream and reality, seen and unseen. The combination restores the proper balance and continual harmony between the opposites, as in a marriage. Through my knitting, I want to convey to others unceasing persuasions toward harmony, aesthetics, and imagination.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I would like to share my new fine art wall piece knitting. I would like to express my imagination between ambiguous and factual through knitting. I also want to bring an aesthetic communication of color, texture and volume.
BELA MONDE
Lisa Limer
[1977, Photography]
Based in Pawtucket, RI
Bela Monde’s RISD Craft Gallery
Bela Monde is an accessory/lifestyle company and is a natural out growth of my professional life as a travel photographer. For over 20 years I was under contract as a photographer with Conde Nast Traveler and collaborated with other national and international publications as a freelancer. My textiles originate from this archive of photographs taken from around the world. I transform my photographs into abstracted designs that are both sophisticated and representative of the destination that inspired its creation.
How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?
I directly transform elements from my extensive archive of photographs to create my textile designs which are then digitally printed onto 100% silk.
What are some of the most important practices for your creative process?
Using photoshop to identify elements in my photographs and transform them in such a way as to reflect a particular culture/destination. Digitally printing on silk these patterns and sewing them by hand to create wearable art: scarves, caftans, robes, and pajamas.
Tell us about some of your main sources of inspiration.
I believe that travel is a transformative experience. I use my extensive travel from around the world as a travel photographer for prestigious magazines……40 countries on 6 continents in over 15 years….as my means to create wearable art that express my story, inspiration and respect for global cultures.
Is there a work/body of work that you are particularly excited about sharing with us at RISD Craft this year?
I will be exhibiting our new loungewear collection of robes and pajamas as well as scarves–all 100% silk, sewn locally and 100% American made. Our new collection draws its inspiration from India, Laos, Thailand, Morocco and Spain.
Any recent press, exhibitions, achievements or awards you’d like to share with us?
To see more of Lisa’s work, visit belamonde.com
