Korean-Chinese artist Woo Jin Joo creates sculptural creatures and embroideries inspired by Korean shamanism and folklore, often transforming discarded London objects such as old shirts, side-tables and even an Ikea bag into spirited beings. Her work draws on the Korean concept of dokkaebi, the belief that inanimate objects can become spirited, and reflects her exploration of identity after moving from Korea to the UK 12 years ago. This matters as part of a broader trend of artists reviving traditional craft techniques, such as embroidery and ceramics, to create playful, contemporary work that blends heritage with experimentation.

Joo, who studied at Central Saint Martins and the Royal Academy, is preparing her first solo show, Bodily Inbetweenness, at London's Ruup & Form gallery during Shoreditch Design Week. The exhibition explores human emotion through 5ft-tall figures reminiscent of corn dollies, building on earlier acclaimed pieces such as I Hear Things Existing With Me, shown at London's Collect Craft Fair in February. Collect's director, TF Chan, praised her ability to combine intellectual depth with delight, while Joo herself credits growing global interest in Korean culture with making her work feel especially timely.