Exploring the boundaries between traditional craftsmanship and industrial processes, PRECISE PLAY reflects Seo’s investigation into materiality, structure, and function. Working with sand-cast aluminum, wood, resin, and natural rush, he reveals unexpected relationships between organic textures and precise geometric forms. Spanning sculptural furniture, lighting, and functional objects, the exhibition presents a body of work where organic and industrial elements converge, challenging conventional perceptions of material and form.

At the center of his practice is a distinctive approach to aluminum sand casting, transferring the natural grain of wood onto metal surfaces, alongside his ongoing Material Container series. Formed by conical bases cradling flat, disc-shaped surfaces, these stools and tables feature twelve distinct materials—from basalt and maple wood to aluminum, brass, and acrylic— across multiple unique combinations. By elevating humble textures to the level of the precious, Seo deliberately destabilizes traditional design hierarchies, creating furniture that invites touch and rewards close observation of density, temperature, and texture.

Each piece is brought to life through a tailored approach, produced by specialized craftspeople according to the demands of its constituents: wood is turned, brass is welded, rush is hand-woven, and stone is hand carved. "Depending on the materiality of constituents, I needed to find the right way to make it," Seo explains. "For me, it is like travelling to find new places."

PRECISE PLAY is, ultimately, an invitation to look closely, touch carefully, and reconsider the everyday values we assign to the objects around us.

About the Artist

Born in Seoul in 1982, Jeonghwa Seo is a South Korean designer and artist whose practice explores functional forms, tactile perception, and structural geometry. Holding a BFA from Hongik University, an MA from Design Academy Eindhoven, and a PhD from Seoul National University, Seo bridges Western conceptual design with Korean craftsmanship. He currently practices from his studio in Gyeonggi-do while lecturing at Seoul National University.

At the core of Seo’s work is an ongoing investigation into how material, volume, and shape alter human physical experience. Starting with his celebrated Material Container series, he examines the morphological possibilities of everyday objects by pairing contrasting textures in precise geometric frameworks. His signature techniques include aluminium sand casting that transfers organic wood grain onto metal surfaces, challenging conventional perceptions of industrial and organic elements.

Spanning sculptural furniture, lighting, and spatial design, Seo’s functional artworks elevate humble materials to the level of the precious. His internationally acclaimed works are included in prominent public collections worldwide, including the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London, the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, and the Hongik University Museum of Art (HOMA).