In this dynamic embroidery, Kwak Bok-hee captures the fierce vitality of an eagle in the very moment of descent, its wings fully extended and talons poised above the crashing waves. Every feather is meticulously stitched, revealing the artist’s mastery in rendering texture and movement through thread.

 

The eagle, a universal emblem of strength, vision, and authority, is here portrayed with penetrating intensity as it prepares to seize its prey. The foaming waves and dark rock below accentuate the drama of the scene, situating the bird in a landscape of both power and peril.

 

By translating this commanding image into embroidery, Kwak transforms a traditional symbol of dominance into a tactile and luminous work of art. The interplay of thread, light, and motion imbues the composition with both realism and spiritual resonance, reflecting the resilience and determination at the heart of nature’s cycle.

 

 

 

b. 1951

Bok-hee Kwak is a Korean embroidery artist and the designated apprentice of  Yoo-hyun Choi, holder of National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 80 (Korean Embroidery). As director of the Traditional Embroidery Culture Center since 2017, she has been committed to preserving and advancing the heritage of Korean embroidery through teaching, creation, and cultural exchange. Her works, distinguished by meticulous craftsmanship and refined reinterpretations of traditional motifs, have been showcased in major exhibitions and commissions, including projects for the Sulwhasoo flagship store and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Sweden. Exhibiting both in Korea and internationally, Kwak has received numerous awards recognizing her artistry, ensuring that the delicate beauty and cultural depth of Korean embroidery continue to resonate in contemporary contexts.

 

 

Plum Blossoms on a Ten-panel Embroidered Screen at Sulhwasu Spa, Myungdong Lotte Hotel, 2018