Blooming Vessel

Chunghi Choo, Blooming Vessel, 2004, copper with silver-plating, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance, 2007.1
Copied Chunghi Choo, Blooming Vessel, 2004, copper with silver-plating, 1987 14 in. (48.320.318.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance, 2007.1

Artwork Details

Title
Blooming Vessel
Artist
Date
2004
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
1987 14 in. (48.320.318.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the James Renwick Alliance
Mediums Description
copper with silver-plating
Classifications
Object Number
2007.1

Artwork Description

“I find inspiration from wherever or whatever comes to my mind. It could be a form from nature, a flower, and, most of the time, I take risks and venture out and sail from whatever is there. Some of the better pieces I produced this way contain a spark that brings the pieces to life.” —Chunghi Choo


Chunghi Choo’s vase suspends the moment just before a flower fully blooms. She achieves organic, spontaneous forms in metal with an electroforming process adapted from industrial design, in which copper adheres to the surface of a wax mold in an acid bath. The wax melts and leaves the hollow copper form. Choo then uses a similar process to plate the copper surface with silver.


This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, 2022