Soorin Shin is a visual artist working in 3D printed sculpture, digital and installation art. She is based in Glasgow, where she founded Wobbly Digital, a 3D printing & digital art studio in 2021, after graduating in Sculpture & Environmental Art from the Glasgow School of Art. Her work is concerned with nature's depiction in historical and cultural artefacts, especially those related to women and hence her practice explores issues around ecofeminism. Inspired by the ambiguous border between the digital and the physical worlds, her practice interrogates the relationship between technology and nature, examining environmental and technological ideas and processes simultaneously. To create her sculptures, she uses recycled plastics as well as PLA (polytactic acid), which is biodegradable unlike other materials used for 3D printing. Working with this material’s incredible textures - as if made from organic matter from an alien realm - Soorin conjures exuberant sculptures that probe human touch.
What value does craft have in daily life?
Craft for me is something that you can feel and touch love, creativity and effort in an object in daily life. My journey in the discourse of what the difference is between fine art and design, often reconciles in craft.
Some might ask me: “Then I have a question for you, is craft art or design?”. My best answer is: “Does it matter when it brings you joy?”
What does Scottishness mean to you?
Scottishness is being open, brave and down to earth. I have lived in Scotland for 5 years now. As someone who can be still considered as an outsider, Scotland has treated me with open arms. Even with my 3D printing practice, the reaction I get is only fascination and not reservation from something new, no fear. Especially as I take my practice further to be more sustainable, Scottishness knows how to face and treat nature. I believe this mentality comes from a strong connection to nature within its history and culture. There is no other country in the world where a poem is read to a haggis. I love it!
Come and visit us at Bard in Leith to see Soorin’s work, or get in touch with us directly.
