popcorny unicorny
Stories told through various myths, folktales, and legends make you have faith even without rational or scientific causal relationships.
In my life, I was able to gain inner courage and support from these irrational beliefs when I was in various problematic situations.For example, I didn't have a special religious belief, but things like the St. Mary's Statue on the side of the house and the spoons handed down by my late grandparents were the same. I deeply sympathized with the fact that objects with the characteristics of totem with storytelling can comfort us in our lives, and I was interested in tales, shamanism, and totemism.
Using images and storytelling of totem containing people's wishes, we intend to expand the area that furniture can provide to humans beyond convenience or practicality into objects that give emotional stability.
I think my work should be more specific and detailed storytelling work. Future studies will not just end in one page by combining and religiousizing the working world of the writer, but will communicate with the public in the form of an artbook such as a Bible or a collection of tales. To that end, we will conduct research on various religions, tales, and superstitions that can persuade users. Thus, I will create a new mythical work force that I have created.
Irrational, such as faith, hope, and love, but human characteristics that enrich life will continue even in the 30th century, so I think the value of these households will continue. I hope my mythical world will be a new art feature that gives other emotional comfort than ordinary comfort to modern people living hard daily lives. Normal life without stories is boring!
HANEE SHIN
Seoul, South Korea
+82 10 2790 5974
@popcorny_unicorny
EDUCATION
2022. M.F.A. in Furniture Design, Hongik University, Seoul
Thesis: "Storytelling in Furniture Design: Reinterpreting Folk Narratives of Blessing"
2019 B.F.A. in Woodworking & Furniture Design, Hongik University, Seoul
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2024- Lecturer, Furniture & Living Design, Kongju National University, Gongju, South Korea
Furniture Drawing and Design Seminar : An undergraduate class on sustainable material usage and conceptualization.
2019-2021 Teaching Assistant, Woodworking & Furniture Design, Hongik University, Seoul, South Korea
Assisted in design studio instruction and oversaw safety compliance for woodworking machinery
PUBLICATION & RESEARCH
2025 "Narrative Furniture Design: Analyzing the Myodusa Folktale,"
Journal of the Korean Society of Furniture Design, Vol. 2025, No. Spring
2021 "Furniture Design Methodologies Utilizing Serpentine Iconography,"
Journal of the Korean Society of Furniture Design, Vol. 2021, No. Spring
GRANTS & AWARDS
2025 Grant for Young Artists, Seoul Design Foundation, Seoul
Grant for Young Artists, Incheon Foundation for Arts & Culture, Incheon
2023 Best Young Designer, Korea Design Awards, Design House, Seoul
Grand Prize, BAF Young Artist Competition, K-International Buddhism Expo, Gyeonggi-do
2022 Seoul Selected Young Artist, Seoul International Sculpture Festa 2022, A-Grip, Seoul
Selected Artist for ‘Youth Zip-joong’ Support Program, Youth Zip-joong, Seoul
2019 Excellence Award (Craft & Design), Grand Art Exhibition of Korea, K-Fine Arts Association, Seoul
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026(Upcoming) SaloneSatellite(Selected Solo Booth), Salone del Mobile.Milano, Milan, Italy
2025 Is Mr. Kim There?, Saebyeok Sesi Gallery, Incheon
2023 Dr. Haneecorny's Secret Room, Space Kyeol Gallery, Seoul
2024 Seoul Design Festival (Young Designer Invitational Solo Booth), COEX, Seoul
2022 Supy X POPCORNY UNICORNY, AK Plaza Hongdae, Seoul
Popcorny Unicorny: First Solo Exhibition, Danglim Art Museum, Asan
Seoul Interior Design Korea (Invitational Solo Booth), KINTEX, Goyang
2021 Seoul Design Festival (Young Designer Solo Booth), COEX, Seoul
2020 Craft Trend Fair (Creative Workshop Solo Booth), COEX, Seoul
2019 Craft Trend Fair (Creative Workshop Solo Booth), COEX, Seoul
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025. Next Highlight, Seoul Design Foundation, Seoul
Dreaming Society, Sinchon Culture Power Plant, Seoul
The Art Plaza, IBK Bank Headquarters, Seoul
Cheongju Craft Biennale: Black Mountain, Culture Factory, Cheongju
Garden of Creation, DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza), Seoul
The Hyundai Maison, The Hyundai Cheongju, Cheongju
The Hyundai Seoul, The Hyundai Seoul, Seoul
2024 80 Canes from the Ashes, Jebi Hanok (Peace Forest), Seoul
KOFURN (Korea Furniture Society Recommended Artist), KINTEX, Goyang
New Face: Korea Design Award, Seochon Lounge, Seoul
2023 Black Land 75,010,925 Pyeong, Woong Gallery, Seoul
The Void Art Show, Kir Seoul, Seoul
Craft: Foam and Pop (Special Exhibition), Songwon Art Center, Seoul
Vivi Dynamic, SASS Gallery (Sindang Art Arcade), Seoul
Space Kyeol arte & segreto, Space Kyeol Gallery, Seoul
2022 Seoul International Sculpture Festa 2022, BEXCO, Busan
Design Art Fair 2022, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul
The Maximalist 001, Craft on the Hill, Seoul
2020 From Material to Object, BKID, Seoul
RESIDENCIES & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2024 Workshop Participant, Domaine de Boisbuchet, Lessac, France (Supported by Seoul Design Foundation)
2023 Artist-in-Residence(14th), Sindang Art Arcade, Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, Seoul
2019- Present Founder & Artist, Popcorny Unicorny, Seoul
:Directed an independent studio practice focusing on conceptual art furniture
and material research; oversaw entire fabrication processes from sketching to finishing