THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412070173
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 6K EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STALNAKER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Virginia Beach artist Paul Cho works hard by day tucking and rolling auto upholstery, then works even harder by night and weekends welding, cutting and grinding metal into unique sculptures that express his ideas on love, family and life.
Cho, 33, taught himself both his art and the mechanical techniques he needs to create his work. He turns a garage at his father's shop, Joe's Upholstery on Virginia Beach Boulevard, into an after-hours studio, often illuminated at night by the glow of Cho's arc welder.
Since he started sculpting in 1991, Cho has created more than 60 impressionistic works out of metal plate, rod and scrap.
A painter until 1982, Cho put aside his art to learn the upholstery craft from his father and help send his brother Charlie to college. But the fulfillment of helping his brother was not enough for Paul Cho, so he returned to art three years ago. He chose arc-welded metal as his medium because, he said, ``metal is more awesome, more of a challenge than painting.
For Cho, metal sculpture is also big - he works on a grand scale. The sculptures are either free-standing pieces or large wall hangings. Many of his creations can be used as furniture.
``I like to make functional sculpture that can be both enjoyed and used, Cho said.
In the shop, the artist proudly pointed to his favorite work, ``Maintaining Love.'' This sculpture, intended as a gift for brother Charlie, is designed as a coffee table base.
``I realized love is somewhat like machinery,'' Cho said. ``If you don't maintain it, it breaks down, so you must be constantly adjusting it.''
``Maintaining Love'' features three concentric hearts supported from each table leg by interlocking wrenches and mechanical gear. Cho said the hearts represent trust, understanding and forgiveness.
``When you have that, you have everything,'' Cho declared.
Cho has avoided shows, which he said he believes are designed to sell art. His is not for sale.
``People don't know how personal this art is,'' said Cho. ``Parting with a piece would be like losing a part of my life.'' Besides, he said, ``I haven't made my masterpiece, yet.''
The Cho family came to the United States in 1976 from the small Korean town of Jen-Kok, near Seoul. They settled first in Washington to be near Paul's father's sister, who had immigrated 25 years before. There father Joe, sons Paul and Charlie, and daughter, Ginger, took Anglicized names suggested by a Catholic priest.
After the family moved to Virginia Beach in 1979, Joe Cho started the family's upholstery business. Joe Cho, who learned the upholstery craft in Korea, concentrates on furniture upholstery, while Paul Cho is in charge of automobile upholstery. Father, children and mother Kwana-Ja all became naturalized citizens, together, in 1983.
Artistry apparently runs in the family. Brother Charlie, 25, earned his master's degree in fine art from the Chicago Art Institute, and is now a sculptor and mixed media artist in Chicago. Sister Ginger, 19, is an art student at Virginian Commonwealth University. She also is a sculptor. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
Paul Cho, 33, taught himself the mechanical techniques needed to
create the more than 60 impressionistic works out of metal plate,
rod and scrap.
``I like to make functional sculpture that can be both enjoyed and
used, said Paul Cho, who created a coffee-table base for his
brother.
by CNB