Kim Sung Chul (b. 1980) is a ceramic artist who studied at Seoul National University and creates refined white porcelain works using the potter’s wheel. His practice originates from memories of oil lamps he encountered during childhood. As electric lighting became widespread, these lamps gradually lost their practical function and became decorative objects. The artist, however, remains drawn to the memories evoked by these objects, which once illuminated everyday living spaces. An oil lamp, in which a wick draws up fuel to sustain a flame, becomes in his hands a medium that illuminates the boundary between reality and imagination.

The artist joins two wheel-thrown hemispheres, employing a technique traditionally used in the making of Korean moon jars. His delicate wheel-throwing skills are also evident in the thin lids of his oil lamps. Through faceting, a technique of carving flat planes into the surface, he creates subtle variations of light and shadow. Imaginatively reinterpreted lids, handles, spouts, and feet are attached to the body like assembled components, achieving a harmonious balance of forms. He also employs a wide range of glazes. The restrained ornamentation and gentle contours of his works evoke tranquil landscapes, reminiscent of a softly illuminated forest or stars suspended above the horizon.