Mok-su South Korean, b. 1973

Known only by his chosen name, Mok-su has embraced woodcarving as a meditative practice, a means of quieting his restless mind. Originally trained as a classical musician, he was forced to leave music behind to support his inventor father’s business in Poland. It was there that he first picked up woodworking—not as an art form, but out of necessity—to craft a classical guitar for himself. Yet, in the process of shaping wood, he discovered something profound: a sense of peace, focus, and mindfulness in the solitary act of making.

Upon returning to South Korea, Mok-su continued working with wood, but soon grew disillusioned with modern, mechanized production. He rejected machinery, seeing in it the erasure of the human touch, and instead committed himself entirely to hand tools. His practice became slower, more physically demanding, yet deeply liberating—an antidote to the dehumanizing nature of contemporary work. Woodcarving, for him, is no longer just about creation, but about being present in every cut, every mark, every moment.

Each of Mok-su’s works bears the traces of this devotion. Countless gouge marks cover the surface, forming intricate lines and planes that shape the body and foot of each piece. He never sketches or pre-plans, allowing his meditative state to guide the form into being. Even the smallest works take days to complete, their subtle variations revealing his pursuit of neither perfection nor imperfection—only presence.

Further engaging with nature, Mok-su creates his own pigments, extracting color from charcoal, chalk, earth, indigo, herbs, seashells, Korean calligraphy ink, and minerals. Applied through techniques such as burning, brushing, rubbing, polishing, and scorching, these natural hues enhance the organic textures of his carvings. The result is often mistaken for other materials—leather, marble, or artifacts unearthed from the deep woods—inviting viewers to rediscover the quiet wonder of the material world.