At the 2025 ITAMI International Jewellery Exhibition held in Japan, Lee Chae Won (Graduate ‘22), an alumnus of the Graduate School's Metalwork & Jewelry Department, received the 'Award for Promising Talent (Koyosha Award)’, Lim Je woon (Graduate ‘20) received the 'Best Material Award (Satake Glass Award)’, and Park Jung Hee (Graduate '17), Kim Min Seok (Undergraduate '15, Graduate '22), An Ye Rin (Graduate '24), Ivan (Graduate '24), Lee Min Hyeong (Graduate '25), and Jang Ga Eun (Graduate '25) were selected as finalists.

 

Lee Chae Won's jewelry, themed on solitude, was highly praised and honored for expressing through delicate sculptural language how solitary time is a process that strengthens and matures the self. Based on the message ‘Ultimately, we live as 'I’'—she imbued her work with the meaning that accumulated solitude becomes the strength that sustains us. Through this, she hopes the wearer can also stand firm alongside solitude.

 

Lim Je Woon's work was highly praised for its sculptural exploration of whether an individual's growth is a choice or an inevitability, using the structure of nature where leaves grow in predetermined positions before blooming. This earned him the Best Material Award. Starting from the perspective of viewing leaves as independent entities, his work reveals the autonomy and inevitability of individuals within a structure through unique material expression.

 

The Museum of Arts & Crafts ITAMI, opened in 1989 with the aim of enriching the local community through diverse arts and crafts activities, nurtures artists internationally through various exhibitions, lectures, and competitions. The ‘Itami International Craft Exhibition’ began in 1998 and alternates annually between two themes: ‘Jewellery’ and ‘Shuki Shuhaidai’. This year marks the 26th edition, with the theme [Jewellery]. A total of 302 artists from 27 countries worldwide submitted entries, and 98 works were selected.

 

Award for Promising Talent / Lee Chae Won, Your Solitude

 

Best Material Award / Lim Je Woon, The Structural Leaf

 

Honorable Mention / Park Jung Hee, The Eternal Moment

 

Honorable Mention / Kim Min Seok, Steelbug series

 

Honorable Mention / An Ye Rin, The tree

 

Honorable Mention / Ivan Nalivaiko, Citrus Memory

 

Honorable Mention / Lee Min Hyeong, Serenity

 

Honorable Mention / Jang Ga Eun, Hiatus_B_Series

 

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