The Joy of the Impossibile: Soorin Shin's 3D printing
Glasgow’s Soorin Shin explores the ambiguous border between the digital and the physical worlds, creating objects using 3D-printed recycled plastic that interrogate our relationship between technology and nature
In 2021 Soorin Shin founded Wobbly Digital, a 3D printing and digital art studio. As a graduate of Glasgow School of Art (Sculpture and Environmental Art) with a design background studying in Design Academy Eindhoven and Dongduk Women’s University in South Korea, Shin’s studio moves deftly between art and design. Shin’s practice is emblematic of the growing confidence amongst designers and artists to shrug off outdated demarcations and embrace the possibilities of creative freedom of expression.
“Freeing ourselves from categorised boxes, I believe we can let our creativity run further and wilder,” says Shin. “When I started Wobbly Digital, I decided that regardless of a job title, what I want to do is make something that brings joy. Maybe I should start calling myself a professional joy-maker, a professional of making joyful things.”
Shin’s jewellery, vases and planters have an animalistic quality, like imaginary characters from space with highly distinctive forms and personalities.
“I believe the animalistic imagery comes from my approach to bring joy in my work. For me ‘joy’ is something playful, primitive, instinctive and never cold but warm. All of these qualities come to me as visually organic, soft-edged and tactile. I believe there is an inherent love and interest in nature in all of us as children of Mother Earth. When I allow my inner free child to go wild, I feel like she goes back to the arms of Mother Earth, recreating shapes and forms from nature like coral, flowers and animals. The best moment in my making process is when I find myself smiling because I’m enjoying the pure creative flow of that very moment.”
The shapes in Shin’s earrings collection are inspired by historical Korean traditional craft techniques with the designer translating the knot tradition using a different medium – plant-based bioplastics – and applying her own unique aesthetic.
Dry Flower. Credit: Soorin Shin
“I love that clash between tradition and future but also how perfect a marriage it is. It is impossible to make them without 3D modelling and 3D printing technology; and making knots by using 3D models like a thread is quite an uncommon practice.”
Her artworks are concerned with nature's depiction in historical and cultural artefacts, especially those related to women, underpinned by Shin’s eco-feminist ideal. “Driven by my eco-feminist motivation, I have progressively introduced more recycled plastic materials to my work, directing my artistic practice towards true sustainability."
With 3D technology still in a relatively early stage within a design and art context, it has enormous potential to be developed and discovered by new audiences, something Shin is excited to be part of.
“I love 3D printing because it is a perfect mixture between physical craft and digital technology. I don’t need to choose one way or another – I can do both. Again – it is just like design and art. 3D printing communities are so open about sharing information and giving advice freely online. Sometimes it feels like I am a part of a cool cyberpunk movement, that this technology will liberate society from monopolising mass production to more individualistic and unique creativity.”
With such experimental work, are her clients and customers likely to be pioneers and explorers?
“Yes, I think they are people who are curious and open to new experiments. I feel like we are fellow travellers together, exploring something beyond time from the past to the future. The past resonates through shapes and concepts in my work, blending with a possible future emerging through its new material and practice.”
The feedback from both the design and art world has been that Shin’s sculptures and jewellery are authentic and highly original, something that they have never seen before.
“I think this is the most incredible compliment I could ever ask for! It makes me feel very happy and accomplished that my very genuine and honest way of making has been delivered to audiences through my work.”
Until now, Shin has grown the Wobbly Digital studio in a very organic way that allows her to respond to new ideas with immediacy on a day-to-day basis. Recently, she has formed a new approach, developing projects in a more structured, strategic and methodological way.
“I am strengthening the concept of Wobbly Digital and its branding to be more applicable in various aspects of design, craft and fine art industries. I am planning on presenting these new projects to a global audience, joining design weeks and art fairs such as Dutch Design Week and Milan Design Week next year.”
Soorin Shin exhibits at Hidden Door Festival, Edinburgh, 31 May - 4 Jun, and is a resident artist at the CCA Creative Lab Residencies, beginning in January 2024
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