Quality control
In a sage-coloured corner building on Paddington St that has always housed unusual or interesting tenants, a new gallery has quietly opened, bringing refined and unique pieces to Paddington.
Founded by Joe Ha and his wife, jewellery designer Jeanne Kang, Fineworks Paddington is devoted to craftsmanship, creativity and covetable objets d’art. The gallery hosts exhibitions — so far dedicated to ceramics and bonsai — while doubling as a retail space and headquarters of The Finery Company, known for its bespoke tailoring.
Ha’s own style is classic and understated, and he and Kang have carried this through into Fineworks, which opened without fanfare late last year. Both Ha and Kang are enamoured with art and design, and set up the gallery to celebrate this passion.
“I don’t think we would have launched Fineworks had we not settled in Paddington St,” says Ha. “Being able to share our love for beautiful things is a privilege, as is meeting like-minded people who happen across us. There are many artists and people with creative minds who live in and form part of the local community.
“The streets (of Paddington are beautiful because of the people who inhabit them. There are characters and there are unique souls with their own stories. That is what’s charming about this area.”
Fineworks takes many visitors by surprise; it is part shopfront, part living space, and Ha wants clients to feel like they’re visiting his home. Within its walls are Moon Jars by Korean artist Kim Woochang, and Tenshin Juba’s Kobe Pottery.
“We also have some Noguchi vintage lamps and beautiful candle holders by Piet Hein,” says Ha. “Things come and go and we are always looking for the right piece to place in the space. I also leave it up to providence to guide us — people wander in and are attracted to certain things. That’s part of the magic.”
When selecting pieces Ha always asks himself “is it beautiful?” — because if he doesn’t love something, he can't promote it. But charm, aesthetics and artistic merit also come into play.
“Quality is so important, things have to last and show quality, not only on the surface but internally — and inherently,” he says. “And things have to be uniquely ‘us’, and not just trendy in the moment.”
Time and consideration clearly go into Ha’s curation. Which is a good thing, as it helps those on a mission to become ethical shoppers and keep their environmental footprint as small as possible. Indeed, Ha and Kang have worked to make Fineworks sustainable and zero waste. “We are about buying less, but better,” Ha explains. “Some of our items are timeless — and many are preloved and vintage. That captures the essence of sustainability.”
76A Paddington St; fine.works