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Ottchil: A Material of Time and Tension
Ottchil, the traditional Korean lacquer, is a slow and living material. Extracted from the sap of the lacquer tree, it takes days — sometimes weeks — to cure in humid conditions. It breathes, resists water, and deepens in sheen as it ages. But more than its technical properties, what draws me to ottchil is its temperament. It demands patience, yet offers permanence.
Why I Work with Ottchil
I am interested in the invisible labor and intimacy that exists between the maker and the material. Ottchil is unforgiving — it shows every gesture, every mistake. There is no undoing once the brush touches the surface. That intensity is where meaning grows for me. I work with ottchil not for nostalgia, but for its ability to embody discipline, care, and silence.
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