For this post I decided to look at kinetic jewellery and sculpture. One of the best examples I found is the work of Dunko Yoon. This Korean metalsmith makes the most intricate moving rings that have to be seen ‘in action’ to be truly appreciated. His website documents the development of his work from his early vessels to his silver ‘Wings’ series. In his early work he uses small vessels to display this notion of making everyday objects kinetic and interactive. The vessels have faces on the top which change as the lid is pulled up. So even something as simple as opening a container has a theatrical element.
The work moves from these early vessels to kinetic jewellery where the mechanical side of the work really develops to be part of the overall aesthetic. The results of this transition are amazing. The ‘Wings’ series is a body of work that explores kinetic jewellery using the ring. What I love about his work is that is doesn’t rely on a motor or some hidden workings. We can see how the wings move through the movement of the finger and simple mechanics on display. The real beauty of this work is the way the mechanical workings of the piece are an integral part of the ring. I like the idea that the ring needs to be worn and ‘played’ with for it to come to life although I’m not sure I’d wear one out on a Saturday night!
If you click on the images below you can watch the video of how the ring works.
Another body of work he has developed is the ‘Segmented Wing’ series where the pieces become more geometric and mechanical but equally impressive. Again they use the movement of the finger and wrist to propel the wings. Hope you enjoy the work as much as I do. If you want to see more just click here to go to his website.
