jeong hur / 허정

meet jeong

Jeong Hur builds things — including much of his studio. We met him in Gowanus, where the towering storage loft and much of what surrounds it are his own handiwork. Seoul-born and Brooklyn-based, Jeong came to sculpture by way of graphic design and photography. Now, he builds structured frames in pine and mulberry paper, softened by light and punctuated by carved wooden elements.

How did you get into woodworking?

Well, I studied graphic design for my BFA, but I felt exhausted sitting in front of a computer every day dealing with Illustrator and Photoshop. So… I went to grad school to get a photo MFA, but at the end of the day, photo and film editing is still on the computer, you know? I was feeling the same void again.

At the time I was working with a lot of design galleries. I saw how designers work — how they make ceramics, woodworking, metalwork. I thought I should try this.

I went to Home Depot, bought a hand saw, and started to cut.

How does it feel now working in this very tangible space?

It’s given me a feeling of liberation, of relief. My studio is my therapy space, where I fully focus on myself. The repetitive tasks and physical labor are meditative — though I think it became meditative because I like it.

Do you see a thread across the various mediums you’ve worked in?

There is some similarity — since my BFA, I’ve always worked within a frame. Graphic design is fully about the grid system. Photo and video work is the same — how to frame the world through the viewfinder. And now, even though I changed my medium, I’m still working within a frame.

Tell us about the materials you’re working with.

I primarily use pine wood because it is most accessible, and because the wood shouldn’t actually stand out in my work — it is the structure, but it’s meant to be neutral. I often begin with these frames made up of 45 and 90 degrees — very straight — which become overly stuffy. So I bring in fluidity with carved and stained wood, to add play and a human touch.

I also use mulberry paper or Hanji — a traditional Korean material — which maintains ambiguity. You can’t see clearly through it, it gives you just a hint of what’s on the other side. The way that you see the light through this material is always different. It’s not a fixed perception.

I am very interested in the possibilities of changing perception.

Is the light meant to push your works from sculpture towards something functional?

I like in-betweens. This is not meant to be a lamp for your dining table.

The light allows the work to stand by itself — not be controlled by an outside source.

Do you find you’ve been willing to take more risk over time?

If you look at my portfolio over the last 5 years, it’s changed a lot. I like trying new things. These days, I’ve been focused on tension and support — how the pieces can hold each other.

Do you know the anglerfish — the one with the little lamp? This work [left] was inspired by that fish.*

*Anglerfish is a common ingredient in South Korean cuisine, often served in the spicy braised dish agujjim.

After that work came one focused on anxiety and danger [right]. Last winter was quite cold, and when I was walking with my partner to Whole Foods, an icicle dropped from above and nearly hit me — right in front of my eyes. It was a crazy experience.

[Sarcastically] So, you nearly died and were like… let’s make that happen to somebody else.

Haha yeah. Honestly though, I always make decisions based off of instinct. I think later — where did this instinct come from?

Final question: what kind of music do you listen to when you’re working?

It depends on where I am in the process. When I am planning — a true crime podcast. During woodworking — Disco and Hard Rock. I need noise because the machines I am working with are loud. When I assemble — ambient music.

Listen to Jeong’s song of choice, Angel City by Motörhead. 

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Photos from different angles and more sculptures are available upon request.

Jeong is currently showing at the Pfizer Building in Brooklyn until April 30, where you can see his works in person. Visits are by reservation only — reach out to @eom_anajoarart to schedule. Let us know if you go!

video interview

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