Myung Urso

In Arirang No. 5, Myung Urso composes a soft and deliberate rhythm; one stitched from memory, material, and motion. Named after the iconic Korean folk song Arirang, the necklace hums with cultural resonance while remaining formally abstract. Each form is hand-dyed and sewn, shifting gently in scale and color as the necklace circles itself.

Arirang No. 5 is composed of fiber, but not fabric in the traditional sense. It is pigment, memory, and texture bound into form. The necklace’s irregular rhythm recalls petals, shells, or even songs with the repeated motif changing slightly each time. The magnetic clasp is nearly invisible, allowing the form to feel whole, like a circle of thought or quiet melody.

Born in South Korea and trained in both biology and fiber arts, Urso’s work resists categorization. She brings the precision of science and the sensitivity of touch into dialogue through a practice rooted in intuition. Since moving to Rochester, New York, in 2006, she has developed a singular voice in contemporary jeweler that privileges softness over spectacle.

Urso’s broader practice has been exhibited internationally and collected widely. Her work often explores themes of nature, identity, and impermanence. This piece, like many of her works, straddles the line between object and poem. It invites us to listen not just with our eyes but with our bodies.

To wear it is to participate in something deeply personal and tender.

References

Charon Kransen Arts. “Myung Urso.” Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.charonkransenarts.com/artists/urso.html.

Main Street Arts. “Myung Urso: Mindscape.” Accessed August 3, 2025. https://mainstreetartscs.org/exhibitions/myung-urso/.
Pistachios. “Arirang No.5 Necklace.” Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.pistachiosonline.com/collections/Myung-Urso/products/arirang-no-5-necklace.
Pistachios.

“Myung Urso.” Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.pistachiosonline.com/collections/Myung-Urso.
RIT Shop One. “Myung Urso.” Accessed August 3, 2025. https://www.rit.edu/shopone/artists/myung-urso.