Grind an Axe to make a Needle
An actual axe
Hand grinding
3” (76mm)
2016
Grind an Axe to Make a Needle: 마부위침(磨斧爲針) Project
This work was inspired by the story of Chinese Li Bai’s story that celebrates persistence. For this work, I ground an axe for an hour every day that eventually resulted in a needle. I collected the dust and used sandpaper, and I also recorded all of working process as video. Through this yearlong project, I wanted to investigate the meditative significance of contemporary metalsmithing practice.
This project is consisted of 3 different components – the needle, a case, and a video. The case is made of steel dusts from the axe grinding, and the video projection behind the objects shows condensed working process.
Case for the Needle
Steel dusts from axe grinding process, Resin, Brass
Resin casting, Metal fabrication
3.5” X 2.8” X 2” (89 X 71 X 51 mm)
2019
Tale for Grind an axe to make a Needle: 마부위침(磨斧爲針)
This legend is about Li Bai, Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Bai was naughty and disliked study when he was a child.
One day he saw an old woman grinding an axe on a big stone when he was playing by a river.
Driven by curiosity, Li Bai came up and asked,
"What are you doing, granny?"
"Grinding an axe." said the old women without stopping.
"Then what for?" he asked again.
"To make a sewing needle," was the answer.
"What?!" little Li Bai was puzzled,
"you want to grind something so big into a needle? It will take many years."
"It doesn't matter. As long as I persevere, there is nothing one cannot achieve in the world.
Certainly I can make a needle from the axe."
Deeply moved by what the old woman said, Li Bai adopted a renewed
interest in studying and finally became one of the greatest poets in China.