Sookyung Augustin is a graduate candidate at IU Bloomington in her thesis year within their Jewelry and Metalsmithing area. Hailing from West Michigan, she started teaching workshops in beading and metalsmithing for five years, then lapidary and metalsmithing at a gallery, masker-space in Grand Haven, MI for five years after graduating from Grand Valley State University under Renee Zettle-Sterling. Sookyung's fine artwork investigates notions surrounding personal identity as a Korean-American adoptee, with precarious medical limitations, novel, bodily awareness, and exploring community through womanhood. Her enamel journey began two years ago with graduate school under Nicole Jacquard.

Raven Haired raku
My hair has long been my pride and joy, my source of self esteem and protection. 
Koreans have a long history with long hair. For over 700 years, Confucianism reigned supreme and forbade the cutting of one’s hair. It was seen as a gift from one’s parents and defilement of one’s body to do so. Until the early 1960’s, post-Korean War, when wig demand began to increase.
Drastic hair cuts are rare: out of necessity, or the result of frustration. This necklace utilizes hair as design and material. Compositions inspired by daily sheddings, and a raku technique on enamel using my hair as catalyst. White is one of the Five Colors of Obangsaek, which correspond to the Five Cardinal directions and Elements, and so forth; central to confucian teachings on balance. The color symbolizes simplicity and beginnings in the simple balance of black and white. The hair-raku lines bear a striking resemblance to changes of texture and thinning in sections of my hair that were disrupted by medical distress: pre-cursor necessitating a hair cut.