89-year-old knitting artist proves age is just number

Knitting artist Seo Yoon-nam poses with her BTS dolls after the interview with The Korea Times at Naury Art Center in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Late-bloomer Seo Yoon-nam holds 10th exhibition with clothes for BTS dolls

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Knitting artist Seo Yoon-nam is living proof that it is never too late to follow one's dreams. Most people in their 80s would consider it a blessing if they don't suffer from serious illnesses. At the age of 89, however, Seo spends hours knitting clothes for dolls. She also has a better vision than many people half her age.

Seo has had an interest in art since she was a high school student. She dreamed of studying art in college. However, change came suddenly. The 1950-53 Korean War put a stop to her dreams. Instead of going to college, she ended up taking classes at a knitting school.

"It was a really tough time for everybody. I felt like I needed to learn practical skills. Women struggled to find work and they were not left with many options. So I learned knitting and crocheting like many girls of my age did," Seo said during an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.

In the southeastern city of Daegu, she learned knitting, sewing and crocheting from a teacher who studied in Japan, famous for delicate stitch patterns.

As an artistic person who loved working with her hands, Seo soon discovered her talent in knitting, sewing and crocheting. She outperformed her classmates, and the teacher, who recognized her talent, eventually handed over the hagwon business to her.

Knitting artist Seo Yoon-nam in the 1960s / Courtesy of Seo Yoon-nam

Seo finally became the "modern woman" she had envisioned. She successfully ran her own business when the textile industry was booming in the 1960s and 1970s.

However, she retired at the age of 38 after giving birth to her second child in 1971. Since then, knitting has simply been her hobby. She made clothes for her family and friends.

It wasn't until around 2005 or 2006 that she found a new motivation to follow her creative passion. Watching her daughter, jewelry designer Choi Woo-hyun, hold exhibitions reignited her enthusiasm in art.

"After raising my two children, I immersed myself in the world of knitting as if I became addicted to it. I would sit for hours and knit nonstop before going to bed," Seo said.

She has been knitting clothes for dolls, mostly Mattel's Barbie dolls. To date, she has made over 1,000 pieces of clothing for dolls.

Asked why she insists on using Barbie dolls as her models, Seo said, "There are not many good quality dolls produced in Korea, and Barbie dolls are easy to dress and undress. When knitting a garment, I make numerous alterations just like tailoring a suit or a dress."

One of her biggest worries is there may not be enough Barbie dolls to meet her demand. "It's hard to find dolls nowadays because not many children play with them anymore. In April, my son traveled to Hawaii, and he asked me what I want as a gift. I told him to buy all the Barbie dolls he sees. I must be one of the biggest collectors of Barbie dolls," she laughed.

Another feature that makes Seo's doll clothing selection so special is their delicacy. Seo said even a doll needs to wear underwear to look good. So she knits various undergarments.

Seo never draws a design sketch before knitting. "After knitting one stitch after another, I think to myself, 'Should I add this colored thread or attach a ribbon instead?' I make whatever idea instantly comes to mind," she said.

Knitting artist Seo Yoon-nam's "Rainbow Boys" are displayed at Naury Art Center in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

The late-bloomer artist held her first exhibition in 2014 at the age of 81. Later that same year, several of her dolls donned in knitwear were sold to a university museum in Daegu. In 2015, she was invited to Milan Expo to exhibit her knitted doll clothes at the Korea Pavilion.

"I wasn't there, but my daughter told me that visitors loved my works, especially the Barbie dolls wearing hanbok (Korean traditional attire)," Seo said.

The artist usually uses Japanese or Italian crochet thread because they are of high quality. "I have tried using all sorts of thread, but Japanese and Italian ones are the best. They last long and their colors don't fade over time," she said.

Last year was another unforgettable time in her life. Her knitted dolls appeared in the third season of hit SBS drama "Penthouse." Seo's daughter Choi shared the backstory.

Knitting artist Seo Yoon-nam's knitted dolls that appeared in the third season of SBS drama "Penthouse" / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

"Screenwriter Kim Soon-ok contacted us saying she needs two dolls that resemble actress E Ji-ah. My mother worked about one and a half months to knit the clothes. I asked my personal hairdresser to cut the Barbie dolls' hair to make sure they looks like E. The writer and the actress were both satisfied," she said.

For her 10th exhibition that is being held in Seoul, Seo made knit clothes for a collection of BTS dolls. Her granddaughter, designer Yoon Bo-min, with whom Seo is exhibiting together, said they watched BTS' music videos and studied their fashion style.

According to Yoon, BTS linked her and her grandmother, who are 60 years apart, together. "Older people might say today's chart music has a lot of noise, but my grandmother showed great interest in BTS. She even blended silk organza material with a thin-ribbed knit to give them a fresh look," Yoon said.

"A lot of people ask me, 'Until when are you going to knit?' Probably forever. I knit because I love to knit. Before holding my first exhibition, I suffered a back injury. But focusing on knitting projects and holding annual exhibitions allow me to keep my mind off the pain," Seo said.

Seo's exhibition, "Neat Knit: Beautiful Solidarity" (literal translation), runs through Nov. 25 at Naury Art Center in Seoul.

Knitting artist Seo Yoon-nam, left, and her granddaughter Yoon Bo-min, also a designer, pose after an interview with The Korea Times at Naury Art Center in Seoul, Wednesday. The exhibition "Neat Knit: Beautiful Solidarity" consists of artworks by two artists. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul