Ancient Korean Craft Technique Honored at the Loewe Award

South Korean artist Dahye Jeong is the winner of the prestigious Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2022.

Jeong’s entry, named A Time of Sincerity, is a large basket-like vessel woven out of fine, lightweight horsehair. The piece appears airy and ethereal in its transparent structure yet also surprisingly strong and sturdy, showing a geometric, symmetrical patterned weave.

Jeong resurrected the horsehair weaving technique from remote history. Thought to be a lost skill from the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), its patterns recall the Sabanggwan—a square hat made from horsehair worn by the Korean gentry in the 1500s.