Ottchil, which is traditional Korean lacquer art, is quite a laborious process requiring the utmost patience and commitment. The realm of this exquisite art form has been expanded thanks to Nah Seoung-sook, who applies the ottchil techniques to everyday household items and to planar canvases.After graduating from Seoul National University with a degree in Applied Art, Nah began a career in the budding field of visual design, and taught more than 3,000 students at Seoul National University of Technology for over the course of some 30 years. It was only after her husband's death in 2006 that she felt an urge to learn something new and turned her eyes to ottchil. In addition to mastering ottchil, she also studied under Jeon Yong-bok, the director of a Japanese lacquer art gallery in Iwayama, and also studied Chinese lacquer art in Suzhou.With the aim to promote ottchil, Nah founded Bongsanjae, an ottchil workshop, in the Bukchon Hanok Village. This is where she breathes new life into the traditional art form by adding modern elements and runs experience and training programs for those wishing to learn ottchil. Her future goals are even more ambitious; She wants to establish a school, specializing in ottchil, so that she can help carry on the legacy of her predecessors.
Join us this week on The INNERview to meet Nah Seoung-sook, who has been adding her unique touch and a sense of modernity to ottchil to keep it relevant to the present times.
