Have you ever looked at a piece of pottery and felt it was telling you a deeply personal, vivid story? That’s exactly how I feel about these incredibles Yurim Goff ceramic bowls. Gough, an extremely talented South Korean artist now based in the UK, uses her background in fashion to completely rethink what ceramics can be. Her collection of nine compelling bowls dives head first into complex narratives of performance, appearance and gender fluidity.
What absolutely amazes me is the sheer dedication that goes into each piece. We’re not just talking about a simple glaze and a single bake. These Yurim Gough ceramic bowls are heavily layered with intricate renderings in pencil, fine thread and other mixed materials. Some pieces require nearly a dozen shots at multiple temperatures to complete! The final results depict striking figures wearing gorgeously flamboyant costumes and elaborately painted faces, all beautifully framed by elegant, cracked gold edges.
Drawing much inspiration from queer culture, Gough’s art is wonderfully subversive and revisionist. Her vessels playfully reveal how constructed and dated traditional gender categories are, while joyfully celebrating the history of those who bravely subvert the rules.
If you’re near Philadelphia, you can view this stunning gold-embellished collection up close at the Salvage Group Show at Paradigm Gallery + Studio. Trust me, between her captivating self-portraiture and her lively commentary on contemporary culture, her work is something that definitely has to be seen to be believed!
