Suffolk Reporter

Sunkoo Yuh, a renowned ceramics artist and professor at the University of Georgia, shared his unique journey from aspiring baseball player to celebrated ceramicist during the opening reception of his exhibition "Cycles of Clay" at the Charles B. Wang Center. Yuh's path began on a baseball field in South Korea, where he excelled as a teenager but realized there was no career for him in the sport due to the absence of a professional league at that time.

Reflecting on his transition from sports to art, Yuh stated, “I didn’t know what to do. I lost something that had been my passion and I was left to wonder as a teenager what I wanted to do, and what I could be passionate about.” He decided to pursue art school after high school with hopes of finding meaning through creativity.

Yuh's exhibition showcases his exploration of cultural heritage and contemporary expression through ceramic sculptures that combine bold colors and intricate figures. His works reflect themes such as Buddhist cycles, Confucian ideals, and sociopolitical commentary. During his lecture, Yuh discussed how his approach involves crafting three-dimensional narrative sculptures that explore identity, spirituality, and human experience.

Initially educated in South Korea before moving to the US for further studies in ceramics at SUNY Alfred in New York, Yuh experimented with various mediums before settling on clay. “I especially liked clay because when it’s still wet, it’s malleable,” he explained. His work evolved over time from self-portraits influenced by Korean traditions to pieces celebrating everyday life after becoming a father.

Yuh's artistic process is characterized by experimental glazing techniques that embrace unpredictability. “I let go of my control in that way,” he noted about using layers of glazes without knowing the outcome until firing is complete.

Despite setbacks like a sculpture shattering during installation — which he shared through video — Yuh maintains an optimistic view: “Many times pieces fall or crack...but I can still take those as something beyond my imagination.”

Jinyoung Jin, director of Asian Art and Culture at the Charles B. Wang Center praised Yuh's work saying: “Behind each of Sunkoo’s works is a story...It’s up to the viewers to apply our own story.”