Give it up for MS in Textile Design alum, Boyoung Moon '10, for winning the contemporary craft competition hosted by Lexus Korea. The Lexus Creative Masters award panel selects one winner and four finalists every year. The prize includes recognition for creative pursuits, continuing education opportunities such as seminars and workshops, more chances to exhibit one's work, and, of course, a substantial cash prize.
Textile Design Alum Wins Prestigious Lexus Creative Masters Award
The winning piece that Boyoung submitted was a continuation of the work she started in her graduate studies in the woven concentration of the MS in Textile Design education at Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University). Boyoung, also referred to as 'Moon Bo-ri' in this article, is developing luminescent fabrics by incorporating various sensors and electronic programming. The work is fun and meaningful to her, and by the number of exhibitions she has shown in since her time here, it is clear that her work resonates with audiences as well. To quote one of the judges for this competition,
"Artist Moon Bo-ri left a deep impression by combining modern technology and traditional textile techniques to present unique weaving works, showing new possibilities in crafts that connect the past, present, and future"
Boyoung melded the analog with the digital to create works that use the powers of synesthesia to express her relationship with time. The fabric is interactive, using light and audio through the use of tools such as fiber optics and sound sensors. The work is responsive to the viewers participation, creating an experiential unspoken dialogue between the artist and the viewer.
Read more about Boyoung's work and process.