Hayun Surl

Bio

Hayun Surl is a Korean-born artist who works with clay as a means of preserving and recording memory. His practice is grounded in the belief that our perception of space emerges through layered conditions and the voids that exist between them. Through contemporary ceramic practice, Surl investigates the intersections of cultural memory, material history, and place, exploring how objects can embody the traces of time, identity, and lived experience.

Surl completed a two-year apprenticeship in Korean traditional pottery and kiln firing before earning his MFA in Ceramics from Ohio University. He has conducted numerous workshops both nationally and internationally, and his work has been exhibited at various venues including Blaffer Art Museum, Amarillo Museum of Art, and Richmond Art Museum. His work and research have also been featured in publications including New Ceramics, the NCECA Journal, and Ceramics Monthly. He continues his artistic journey in West Texas, where he is an Assistant Professor of Ceramics at Angelo State University.

Artist Statement

my exploration of space began with small vessels, expanding to encompass landscapes and sculptures, all the while observing the intricate interplay between object and subject through the lens of my personal background. I stand here between space, place, and the gap in between as a "being," not as a spectator. Every action is the ramification of perpetual friction among the layers of memories in different places I've been exposed to. I am creating artifacts to celebrate and validate my shifting culture in a perpetual moment in time with clay as a record keeper. It is a story about my ontology with my surroundings - it will continue beyond my ephemeral existence and will continue to create memories for others.