At the end of summer, we sat down with artist Yeji Kim to talk about her ongoing exploration of luffa — a material most of us recognize only as an ordinary bath sponge. In Kim’s hands, however, it transforms into something entirely new: soft yet structured, fragile yet enduring.
Through the act of deconstructing and rebuilding, she redefines the familiar, creating sculptural objects that quietly bridge art and everyday life. In this conversation, Kim shares how her practice began, why sustainability remains at the heart of her work, and how she continues to find poetry in the materials we often overlook.
Could you briefly introduce yourself?
I create sculptural yet functional objects by deconstructing and reassembling luffa. My practice began with flat works such as bathmats, and gradually expanded into baskets, small Soban(tables), and other three-dimensional forms. More recently, I have been experimenting with integrating luffa into furniture and everyday items, expanding its possibilities.
What led you to work with luffa?
Sustainability has always been central to my perspective as a maker, guiding not just the materials I use but also how I think about the process of craft. I came across luffa while preparing for the Korea Sweden Young Design Award (KSYDA), and though it is often seen as an ordinary household item, to me it suggested new possibilities. Its dual qualities — rough yet flexible, lightweight yet strong — were immediately appealing, and I naturally began to explore it further.
What was most intriguing when you first used luffa as a craft material?
Of course, luffa grows in irregular forms, but once deconstructed and rejoined it can be transformed into surprisingly balanced structures and patterns. This flexibility of the material fascinated me. I was also struck by how its properties shift with water — firm and rigid when dry, yet soft and pliable when wet. What captivates me most is the moment when such an unpredictable substance, through these processes, is refined into a distinct language of craft.
How does luffa’s material quality influence the forms and aesthetics of your work?
Luffa carries a dual quality — rough yet flexible. When I work with its irregular structure as it is, the result emphasizes a natural, organic presence. When I process it further and introduce patterns, it takes on a more refined aesthetic. These contrasting qualities make it possible for me to pursue both sculptural form and expressive nuance in my work.
What challenges or advantages have you found in working with luffa?
Because luffa is a natural material, its size and density are never consistent, which creates many variables in the process. It can tear easily during stitching, or at times be too dense to sew through. Yet its lightness and breathability make it highly adaptable, and these very irregularities often become the driving force that keeps me experimenting.
You also practice natural dyeing. What materials do you usually use?
At the moment, I use ready-made natural dyes, mainly based on ingredients like green tea or pagoda tree. Although I haven’t yet studied dyeing on a deeper level, preparing for this exhibition inspired me to explore it more systematically. I found that the results shift depending on temperature and the luffa’s natural undertone, which showed me the need for a more in-depth approach.
The variety of patterns and forms in your work is striking. Where do you find inspiration?
Much of my inspiration comes from everyday moments, as well as from the colors and patterns in fashion. Fashion often embraces bold and free experimentation, which encourages me to take new approaches in craft. At the same time, casual conversations or small episodes around me frequently become the starting point for new work.
What significance do you see in sustainable practices within contemporary craft?
I see sustainability not just as the use of eco-friendly materials, but as a principle that extends through the entire process of making and beyond. It means rethinking what materials we choose, how we work with them, and how the finished piece will be used. In practice, this involves conserving resources, working efficiently, and creating outcomes that last. Because craft is so deeply tied to everyday life, I believe its true sustainability lies in making objects that can be valued and used for years to come.
What message do you hope to convey through this exhibition? Are there particular works or details you’d like visitors to notice?
This exhibition explores the essential qualities and sculptural potential of luffa. Through objects drawn from everyday domestic contexts, I wanted to reveal new dimensions of the material, while both two-dimensional and three-dimensional approaches highlight its shifting textures and possibilities.
Among the works on view, I especially hope visitors will notice the Shape of Autumn series. The pendant light, shaped in a voluminous pumpkin-like form, retains the material’s rough texture while achieving a balanced volume through added line stitches and exposed seams. My intention was to hold refinement and rawness together within a single form. The baskets in the same series are crafted from luffa cut into thin strips, dyed in three different colors and pieced together in striped compositions. Through shifts in color and scale, they evoke the layered richness of autumn.
Beyond luffa, are there other materials or methods you’d like to explore?
At the moment my practice centers on luffa, but I am also drawn to combining it with other materials such as wood or steel. I am particularly interested in applying it to larger-scale projects and furniture design. Through experimenting with diverse materials and methods, I hope to expand the possibilities of luffa while continuing to create works that balance functionality and artistry.
Yeji Kim’s work reminds us that beauty can emerge from what we take for granted. Each piece begins with something humble, but through her process of attention and care, it becomes a meditation on touch, time, and transformation.
From Texture to Form is not only an exhibition of material exploration — it is a quiet reflection on how craft can reshape our way of seeing. Through her delicate balance of function and form, Kim invites us to rediscover the subtle elegance that lives within the everyday.