gat table lamps collection, product, 2020

lines: the aesthetics of composition and motion

throughout the years, the gat has endured as an item of traditional male formal attire symbolizing the dignity and decorum of the classical scholar, as well as headgear for blocking the sun. made mainly of horsehair and bamboo, its designs varied according to the purpose at hand. the gat most familiar to korean audiences is the black heukrip, finished in ink and lacquer. the refined form of the traditional gat exhibits a beautiful proportionality, while the forthright lines of the daewoo (crown) and the gentle curves of the yangtae (brim) evoke a sense of upright and elegant nobility. accessories such as okro (jade ornament in the shape of a white heron, worn atop the gat by high-ranking officials or ambassadors), pungjam (forehead ornament fixing the gat in place), and gat strings draw visual interest while highlighting the graceful style of gat.

yéol’s 2020 artisan of the year, jung choon mo, is a certified national intangible cultural heritage no. 4 ganniljang (gat maker) who has devoted himself over the past half-century to the task of keeping our traditions alive. handling every step in the process of gannil (gat making) with the utmost precision and delicacy it requires, he dedicates long hours to pouring his intense focus and exceptional manual skill into the creation of the craftwork-as-artwork known as gat. artisan jung is ever accompanied in his life’s work by his wife, gannil graduate do gook hee, with whom he collaborates in the process of yangtae construction. these two artisans both persevere in their mission to uphold tradition, engraving the beauty and intricacy of gat deeply in their lives.

In collaboration with these artisans, we propose lighting fixtures marrying the traditional gat with modern practicality and aesthetics, usable in everyday spaces. countless bamboo fibers woven by the artisans’ deft hands reveal the minute, exquisite structure of the grain and, met with the radiance of the lighting, imbue the surrounding space with tradition and modern sensibility. experiencing the value and timelessness of our crafts through lines of such meticulously detailed caliber as to display the long years of experience possessed by these two artisans, we look forward to an age marked by the new utilization of old tradition.

dimensions
daewoo yangtae table light / w400 x d400 x h400
yangtae vertical standing light / w550 x d82 x h700
white transparent daewoo table light / w150 x d150 x h360

materials
bamboo(ink-stained,lacquered), brass, iron(gilt), stainless steel

commissioned by yéol for 2020 yéol project

in collaboration with
jung choon mo
(national intangible cultural heritage no. 4 ganniljang (gat maker))
do gook hee
(gannil graduate)