Baguni
Manufactured by Yeunhee Ryu
South Korea, 2025
Copper, hand-worked

Measurements
30 × 30 × 24h cm
11,8 × 11,8 × 9,4h in

Provenance
Private collection

Details
Single sculptural piece, hand-crafted in copper.

About
Baguni is the first piece in Yeunhee Ryu’s series of copper vessels inspired by the archetypal basket. The title, which translates to “basket” in Korean, reflects her interest in reinterpreting familiar domestic objects through the language of metalwork.
The work emphasizes both function and form: while echoing the proportions of a container, its sculptural quality highlights the material’s malleability and capacity for transformation. Hammered and shaped by hand, the copper surface captures subtle irregularities and traces of process, becoming a record of time and labor.
Through Baguni, Ryu situates the basket as a symbol of gathering, carrying, and holding —an elemental gesture of care and continuity across generations.

Biography
Yeunhee Ryu (b. 1990s, South Korea) is a contemporary artist and designer whose practice bridges metalwork and cultural memory. Educated in design and craft disciplines, Ryu is particularly interested in reinterpreting traditional archetypes of Korean domestic life, such as the basket (baguni), through sculptural and material experimentation.
Working primarily with copper, she emphasizes the tactile and transformative qualities of metal: its capacity to be hammered, shaped, and aged, while recording traces of human gesture and time. Her works are both containers and sculptures, oscillating between functionality and symbolism.
Through the Baguni series, Ryu engages with themes of care, continuity, and community, situating her practice within a broader discourse on heritage, materiality, and contemporary craft. Her pieces invite reflection on how humble, everyday objects can embody cultural identity and collective memory, while also asserting new aesthetic possibilities in the field of design.