June Yoo

June Yoo is a South Korean craftsperson and artist based in London. Her practice is based on the materiality of her chosen mediums and the process of creating. By engaging with the materials, she seeks to uncover their unique properties and potential for artistic expression.

June studied for a BFA in Metal Art and Design at Hongik University from 2012 to 2016, studying metalworking along with traditional craft techniques such as lacquering (ottchil, urushi), and has experience of collaborating with designers and working in the industry before studying for an MA in Jewellery & Metal at the Royal College of Art, graduating in 2023. She explores innovative ways to incorporate these materials and techniques to blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.

Gold pin with a strand of hair on fabric

The use of raw, unprocessed materials has played a significant role in June's practice, especially during her studies at the Royal College of Art.

Finding a delicate balance between control and freedom, she allows the material itself to communicate and express its inherent qualities. It involves a multifaceted process that includes uncovering the stories behind the materials, stripping away these stories to focus on ways of using the material and its potential as an artistic medium, and eventually reconnecting the material with its narratives.

By going through this iterative process of uncovering stories, focusing on materiality and reconnecting with narratives, June develops a more nuanced and intimate relationship with the materials she works with. This becomes an itinerary, with the artist embedding herself physically and mentally into the works, adding layers of personal connection and significance to the finished pieces, elevating them to a status beyond that of mere objects.

microscope image of artist's hair

Hair; Larger than Life

“For we are the local embodiment of a Cosmos grown to self-awareness.”

-Carl Sagan, Cosmos

Hair has a complex and multifaceted element of human existence. The roots of hair, where it connects to the body, can indeed represent the life and death of hair and signify various aspects such as bonding, time, power, and control.

The global trade of human hair as a commodity raises interesting questions about power dynamics and cultural exchange. The journey of hair from one person to another, crossing geographical and cultural boundaries, speaks to the interconnectedness of our world. It demonstrates how something as personal as hair can become a part of a larger system that involves economics, politics, and cultural identity.

The act of gathering fallen hair and weaving it into a piece of work, both from oneself and from others, carries symbolic weight. It highlights the transient nature of hair, as it continuously grows and sheds outside our conscious awareness. The collection of fallen hair can be seen as a way to reclaim and reconnect with this overlooked aspect of ourselves, reinventing the dynamics between us and the world.