Textures of Korea 

I have been making rubbings of over looked surfaces for many years. Items such as service covers for drains, telecommunications, water and gas. They have been under our feet and smoothed by the traffic that passes over them, showing the passage of time.

On my arrival in South Korea I discovered that service covers are works of art. Each town and city cast their drain hole covers with the emblem of their town. In larger cities each large neigbourhood have their own emblems cast on their covers. The scale and care that goes in to casting these items is amazing. Often people don’t even notice the covers.

I used every opportunity to make a rubbing and this sketchbook is a journal of my travels in South Korea during my first few months. This activity also gave an opening into many interesting conversations as it became almost like a street performance. People were fascinated by the different rubbings and even though they walked over the service covers everyday they had never actually seen them.

I hope you enjoy this sketchbook.