Jongkwan Choi

Chaehwa Chilgi Master, Transmitter of Painted Lacquer Technique

Practice

Choi Jong-gwan works in chaehwa chilgi, painted lacquer, a technique historically distinct from najeon (mother-of-pearl inlay), the tradition that came to dominate Korean lacquerware in later centuries. For over three decades, his practice has centered on this earlier discipline rather than the inlay tradition that now shapes Western understanding of Korean lacquer.

He trained under Kim Tae-hee, holder of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 10 for najeon chilgi, and was designated a Transmitter of Chaehwa Chilgi Technique by the Republic of Korea in 2004. Where inlay offers a technically efficient path to repeating pattern work, Choi has withheld from it, executing each motif by hand in paint rather than material insertion, a choice that positions his output as historically prior to, rather than derivative of, the inlay tradition collectors more commonly encounter.

Lineage

Trained under Kim Tae-hee, Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 10, Najeon Chilgi 1992 | Grand Prize, Dong-A Craft Exhibition 1999 | Cultural Heritage Administration Award, Korea Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2004 | designated Transmitter of Chaehwa Chilgi Technique, Republic of Korea 2006 | Prime Minister's Award, Korea Traditional Crafts Exhibition 1996 | Sino-Korean Lacquer Exchange Exhibition, Beijing 2006 | Japan–Korea Lacquer Art Exhibition, Tokyo University of the Arts Museum and Wajima Lacquer Art Museum 2007 | United Nations exhibition of traditional Korean crafts 2010 | SOFA Chicago (Sculpture Objects & Functional Art)