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Tradition Transformed: Contemporary Korean Ceramics at the V&A

An interesting exhibition coming up at the Victoria and Albert Museum this summer, starting on 20 May.

The Victoria and Albert Museum is pleased to announce Tradition Transformed: Contemporary Korean Ceramics, a compelling exhibition that brings the finest of contemporary Korean ceramics to London, will be on view in Ceramics Gallery 146 from May 20 until October 4, 2011.

Han Hyang Lim, Mountain entering spring (2003)
Han Hyang Lim, Mountain entering spring (2003). Mixed clay body

Tradition Transformed: Contemporary Korean Ceramics brings together the work of 18 Korean ceramicists whose pieces incorporate traditional techniques with new influences and innovative methods to create sculptural works that express the inventive and modern spirit of the Korean people. The 21 pieces in the exhibition are both large and small in scale, with many created especially for this tour. The artists in the exhibition come from many regions and schools, providing a representative sampling of works which spotlights the distinct trends in contemporary Korean ceramics.

The artists, who range in age from 40 to 70, present the diverse and distinguishing features of contemporary Korean ceramics. Many have participated in the World Ceramic Biennale Korea in Icheon, Korea. Several artists have work featured in major museum collections around the world, such as the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, California; Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii; Trammel and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas, Texas; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada; Musée Royal de Mariemont, Morlanwelz, Belgium and the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea.

Won Il An, The Sound of Nature (2006)
Won Il An, The Sound of Nature (2006) Mixed clay body

The power of the exhibition is in the wide spectrum of techniques, subject matter, texture and color of the various works displayed. Nearly every aspect of ceramic art is represented from clean lines, smooth surfaces and established techniques to playful designs, modern perspective and colorful, energetic forms that give new life to this traditional art form. The exhibition takes the viewer on a journey through the past to the present—from reflecting on the mountainous landscape of Korea to abstract geometric shapes of bold color and fresh designs that express the originality of Korean ceramics today.

The traveling exhibition curated by Ms. Chung Hyun Cho, emerita professor of ceramic art and former dean of the College of Art and Design, Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea, was adapted for the present installation by students of the Royal College of Art and Victoria and Albert Museum History of Design Programme.

Han Young Sil, Ponetive Figure 1 (2006)
Han Young Sil, Ponetive Figure 1 (2006) Mixed clay body and bronze wire

Tradition Transformed is organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC and made possible by the generous support of the Korea Foundation, Seoul, with additional support from the Han Hyang Lim Gallery and Jay Lee Collection, Heyri.

Photo credits: Victoria & Albert Museum

(automatically generated) Read LKL’s review of this event here.

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