Body with Soul: Porcelain Wine Bottles with Art Labels

A Unique Fusion of Tradition and Creativity

Théodore Kwack, an accomplished architect, collaborated with wine makers, potters, and artists to create a truly unique and captivating design. The "Body with Soul" collection is a testament to Kwack's passion for merging art and design, resulting in a stunning fusion of tradition and innovation.

The highlight of this design lies in the porcelain bodies of the wine bottles. Kwack personally crafted these delicate white porcelain artifacts in the traditional porcelain village of Icheon, South Korea. This marked the first-ever attempt to transform wine bottles into porcelain masterpieces in the country.

Complementing the porcelain bodies are the soulful labels, created by twelve talented artists from various disciplines including visual arts, design, and architecture. Each label is a work of art in itself, reflecting the unique style and creativity of the respective artist. Kwack's collaboration with these artists adds a touch of individuality and depth to the "Body with Soul" collection, making it a truly special project.

The production process involved slipcasting the porcelain bodies using white porcelain clay. The bottles underwent a meticulous three-time firing process, including bisque, glost, and decal firing, at temperatures of 900, 1250, and 950 degrees Celsius respectively. This ensured the perfect balance between durability and aesthetics.

The "Body with Soul" wine bottles boast specifications of 300mm in height and 75mm in diameter, while the labels measure 145mm in length and 90mm in width. The intricate decal firing process required the use of 26 color separation plates, resulting in a visually stunning and vibrant final product.

The "Body with Soul" project was a collaborative effort involving a dedicated team. Theodore Kwack served as the general project manager, overseeing every aspect of the design. Wine Korea, a renowned winery, played a vital role in the wine production process. Additionally, twelve talented designers and artists, including Shinjae Kang, Manjae Koo, Seungmo Kang, Kwangkyu Lim, Daeho Guk, Vio Choe, Taekyung Lee, Soyoung Kim, Yongdae Choi, Sanghoon Yang, and publisher Mikyung Park, contributed their creativity to the project.

The design project spanned six months for the production of the bottles, with an additional two years dedicated to the final result. The locations involved in the creation of the "Body with Soul" collection were Yangpyeong-gun, Yeongdong-gun, and Seoul in South Korea.

Thorough research formed the foundation of this design. Kwack delved into the world of traditional liquor porcelains, particularly focusing on the literary artist's style of the Joseon dynasty. The research primarily centered around white porcelains made in the city of Haeju in Korea during the 19th century.

The "Body with Soul" project presented several challenges that required creative solutions. Achieving a firing temperature of 1250 degrees Celsius without distorting the figure of the wine bottles was a significant hurdle. Additionally, the meticulous color separation process for the labels' decals proved to be a demanding task, requiring multiple attempts before achieving success.

The intellectual property and copyright credits for the visual content of the "Body with Soul" collection go to Theodore Kwack, with the exception of the labels' paintings, which credit the respective artists, and the wine blending, which credits Wine Korea.

This exceptional design has been recognized with the prestigious Bronze A' Design Award in the Packaging Design category in 2020. The award celebrates designs that exhibit outstanding creativity, technical skills, and a commitment to improving the quality of life through art, science, design, and technology.