빚다[bitda]

polyacitic acid, ceramics, rice, yeast, glass jars

4x8x12 inches

빚다[bitda]is an installation composed of 3D printed cups, hand wheeled ceramic cups, and handmade Makgeolli (traditional Korean alcohol made with rice). Each type of object is presented on a low wooden table and was constructed during a 12-week period. The layout includes failures, such as broken cups and printing errors. The hand-wheeled ceramics suggest an older form of craftsmanship, while 3D printing is a new manufacturing method that can print an identical shape infinitely from a single file. 빚다[bitda] also asks questions about language and translation; the word 빚다 is difficult to fully translate into English. It connotes craftmanship, meaning making/shaping/building something with time and care. It is the word used in the bible where it says God created humans. The expression 빚다 in daily life is mostly used for making pottery, clay or alcohol. The project compares the process of ‘빚다’ with the 3d-printed and handmade ceramic cups with Makgeolli. The work does not define which is more valuable, rather, it compares the processes of making. 3D printed objects are more objective, whereas handmade objects bear the marks of their maker.