Kyungtae Kwak has long been fascinated with the craft of creating traditional Korean ceramic vessels through both the 옹기
methods. Based in the small city of Icheon, Kwak teaches and works as a ceramics artisan with a focus on Korean slipware. He's known in craft circles for his somewhat unconventional approach of mixing elements of the old Korean styles he works with to forge something unique and modern. But that's not to say his work betrays the form or the storied past of Korean craft. Kwak's approach honours the art of ceramics and the natural imperfections that arise in the making process, embracing the changeable elements of the clay he works into his characterful, but pared-back wares.
The work of Mexico's
Frida Escobedo's architecture firm also tends to challenge boundaries in interesting and thoughtfully planned ways. With a strong focus on materiality and forming compelling narratives in her architecture, Escobedo's celebrated portfolio ranges from
Aesop interiors in New York (where she imported rammed earth bricks from her native Mexico into cosmetics company's Brooklyn outpost - forming a unique dialogue between these two destinations in her design) to the 2018
Serpentine Pavilion in London.
Escobedo and Kwak speak about the ceramic making process and how closely linked craft and architecture can be.