A Moving Altar

Necklace inspired by Korean ancestral rites; Brass, Glass, hanji paper, and incense ash.

Exhibited at Inhorgenta 2026 and Munich Jewellery Week 2026.

This work translates the concepts of an ancestral tablet and incense, used in Korean ancestral memorial ceremonies, into a glass necklace. The necklace is translated from the ancestral name tablet into a wearable form. By being worn on the body, the necklace becomes a portable altar.

This position corresponds to the center of the ritual table and the symbolic location of the ancestral tablet during ceremonies. The slight movement of the necklace while walking or breathing allows it to feel alive and active, suggesting a presence that is never fully fixed or stable.

In the exhibition space, the necklace is displayed together with a set of sticks that allow an incense stick to be lit. This recalls the ritual act of lighting incense during ancestral memorial ceremonies. You are naturally placed in a position where you can participate in the interpretation of this whole sacred, almost holy feeling across a cultural border.

Sacred Smoke

Incense sticks are traditionally burned as offerings and a way of honoring ancestors.