Teoju is inspired by the Korean god Teojusin, traditionally represented as the god of land, who protects the earth where the home is located.

Traditionally, by placing a big pot surrounded by straw with a cone-shaped lid in their yard, Korean ancestors wished for good luck and thanked Teojusin for blessing the land.

In this piece, Jihyun Kim deepens the narrative by incorporating earth sourced from beneath London homes, layering the work with a sense of place and quiet reverence.

This connection between material and meaning transforms Teoju into a contemplative vessel, both protective and poetic, rooted in cultural symbolism and urban archaeology.