THE CURATORS VIEW September 2023
JIN EUI KIM and PAUL JAMES
September 7 – 30
After two months, when many people have enjoyed our Summer Show, we have a splendid follow up featuring the work of two extraordinary ceramicists whose making skills stand out with every piece. They are nevertheless contrasting makers, one impacting with cleverly constructed patterns and the other with minimal decoration, yet so elegantly and precisely made that holding in the hand is almost irresistible.
Jin Eui-Kim is an internationally renowned ceramic artist. He has been featured at Bevere over several years and his work always attracts great interest. His technical skills are impressive and his decoration is immaculate with a hand steadier than most of us. Every piece he produces has great presence which has added to the respect and reputation which he deserves. Whilst at Cardiff School of Art and Design, he studied the illusory effects of the application of tonal bands to three-dimensional surfaces and that has been the platform from which his work has grown. Originally from South Korea, he now lives with his family in Cardiff.
We remember him joining us in one of our maker’s lunches some time ago now and whilst we could only marvel at the quality of his work, his modesty equally impressed.
jin eui kim ceramics
Paul James has a very unusual professional background. He studied ceramics at the Royal College of Art and after college he moved to Italy to work for Gucci where he began a career in fashion accessories. After seven years in Italy, he moved to New York to work for Calvin Klein, Oscar De la Renta and Reed Krakoff amongst others. After 20 Years of living in the US, he returned to London to pursue a new career in his first love – ceramics.
Paul James ceramics
His work focuses on the simplicity of the raw materials, revealing the natural textures and beauty of the clay body. Paul’s work demonstrates how impactful undecorated but finely crafted vessels can be. Presence in craft does not have to be stunning decoration – it is the elegance of the form and the presence that makes the impact.
As always we can laud the work of our selected makers but we know that seeing them for yourself is the only way to fully appreciate their talent. Do put them in your diary!
