About

In my work, I have used yarn embroidery mirror and clay sculpture to convey a personal moment of small but certain happiness that happens in our ordinary lives when we get a sweet treat. The COVID-19 and long-term lockdown has had a negative impact on me and the public. However, it is important to be in a positive mood during lock-down by focusing on simple happiness nearby. I have depicted one of my personal happy moments in my work of getting a cake and made it using various coloured yarns using the punch needle embroidery technique. Along with the yarn embroidery, I have made a cake replica out of light clay, which is then placed on the mirror to illustrate the delightful moment of sharing a delicious cake with friends. Moreover, the use of mirrors allows the audience to see their own reflection in the embroidered scene, allowing them to empathise with the positive vibe My work is inspired by ‘When Happiness Ruled’ by Australian artists, Pip & Pop and, ‘Happy Cake’ by American artist, Peter Anton. Their use of vivid and bright colours, and the choice of subject, cake and sweets, reminds me of my own personal happy memories of birthdays, and the possibility of finding small but certain happiness in our daily life.

Bio

Grace (Hee Jae) Chung was born in Korea in 1999 and based in Australia. She is currently completing an undergraduate degree majoring in Jewellery at Sydney College of Arts, The University of Sydney. Grace works across jewellery, metalsmithing and sculpture through the various medium of metals, perspex, yarn and clay to highlight a personal narrative and perspective.