Investigating the Collection: Comets and Curves, Bongsang Cho's Newest Work

Bongsang Cho

Specialty: Jewelry, utilizing modern technology to surpass previous restrictions

Most Recent Craft Show: American Craft Exposition 2013

Upcoming Craft Show: Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show 2013

In Bongsang Cho’s world, geometry is the language which connects humanity and nature, going from the inorganic to the organic and back again. Endeavoring to express this in the vocabulary of his art, he has produced several series of work which continue undergoing refinements. Currently there are two of these unique bodies of jewelry on which he is focusing his efforts.

To understand his geometric Comets brooches, one must first venture into the stars; Cho’s stars, that is. In another branch of his work, Cho utilized enamel and silver and gold flakes to produce starry skies and multi-hued, metalliferous forms he titles his Stellar series. Starting from one geometric collection of enameled panels, Cho stretched the form off fractally, but at each point maintaining the connection between each extension. Either dappling the shape with an enamel gradient, or, by taking a pure black form, studding it with gold leaf or metal granules, he orchestrated his interpretation of the cosmos.

Comet Brooch & Pendant Series #1, of copper, vitreous
enamel, and 23 karat gold leaf, 4” x 4” x 1.5” inches, 2012.

From this line, one can see the precursors to his more recent Comets work. In the wire frameworks and enamel panels of this series, he forms the celestial object’s tail and head; abstract, modern interpretations translated into a brooch. Using geometric forms, pentagons, either symmetrical or with some lopsidedness, with a wire framework behind which lightly imitates the foreground shapes, Cho’s meteorological representation comes into focus. For some of these pieces, such as Comet #6, the abstraction of the form almost leads to it looking like a botanical entity, something Cho favors in much of his work. The “flower” is five enameled panels, like petals, with enamel splashes that intimate the flower’s stamen, pistil, and other assorted innards.

Comet Brooch & Pendant Series #6, of copper,
sterling silver, vitreous enamel, and 23 karat
gold leaf, 3” x 2” x 1” inches, 2012.

With his Splash and Orbit series, we see elements from Stellar, but also the developed wirework that emerges in his Comets and previous Blossom suite. In fact, through Cho’s oeuvre one can see characteristics developed in one series being incorporated into another, but played with and altered. Here, he gambols with the wire to create reckless circles and curves that are dotted with silver balls, like thorns on a rose, vines or barbed wire, that makes the brooch visually outstanding. It projects a mood, perhaps curiosity, perhaps aggressive, but certainly not silence. However, this visual chaos eventually resolves itself, as the motif of wild curvature rebounds throughout the piece. Cut aluminum panels are covered with squiggly spirals, which echo the steel wire ellipses. A splash of enamel and cast copper introduces color and contrast, the molten form at odds with the sharp, clean cut surfaces of the silver-hued flanges and dark
steel circles.

Splashing & Orbit Brooch & Pendant #2 of splash cast copper,
23 karat gold leaf, vitreous enamel, laser welded steel, silver granules,
and aluminum, 3.50” x 5” x 1.50” inches, 2011.

That each series is distinct (sometimes so noticeably as to appear to be from different artists), yet retaining stylistic genes between them demonstrate Cho’s dedication to expression. As he continues to explore the earth and the heavens, there will undoubtably be new ground to cover.

Comet Brooch & Pendant Series #4 (left), #5 (right), of copper, sterling silver, vitreous enamel, and 23
karat gold leaf, 3” x 3” x 0.5” inches (left), 3” x 2” x 0.5” inches (right), 2012.