Se Oh

Artist statement: As an infant I was adopted from Incheon, South Korea by a white Southern couple.
Growing up in America’s South came with its own set of obstacles like racism and
othering, which perpetuated a general sense of feeling alone. I found myself
internalizing these negative aspects of existence, and issues with anger and
resentment came into existence at a very young age. Later in adulthood, my desire
to connect with my Korean heritage became a life focus of mine. I sought to connect
with my culture through Korean food and later through my ceramic work as a way of
claiming ownership of my heritage. Most of my work is rendered in porcelain. My
forms are inspired by classic Korean shapes found in traditional Korean ceramics.
Another visual theme in my work is heavily influenced by nature, specifically plants.
The resilience of nature has always fascinated me and will always be a common
theme in my work.