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.

More than aesthetically beautiful, A Time of Sincerity carries poetic significance as a link anchoring today’s world to ancient tradition with its timeless beauty.

Jeong’s winning contribution was selected from 30 finalists and a total of 3,100 initial applications to the popular contest, founded by Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson in 2016.

An award ceremony and exhibition have since been hosted annually, taking place in a different city each year.