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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

Touring Exhibition of Contemporary Korean Ceramics in Europe

A touring exhibition of contemporary Korean ceramics, under the theme of “Tradition Transformed,” has already been shown in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. From June 10 through August 31, 2008, this exhibition is on display at the National Museum of Ceramics, in Valencia, Spain.

This museum, built in a Gothic style with beautiful architectural features, was founded in 1947. Both the interior and exterior of the museum are highly decorative, creating an aristocratic atmosphere that served to elevate the ceramic works on display to a lofty level.



Previously, there have been occasional exhibitions of this kind related to Korea, but none of such a large scale and with such a unique style as this particular exhibition. With reference to their Korean roots, “Tradition Transformed” selected 29 ceramic artists who are known for applying traditional Korean techniques in new ways. The 87 ceramic works of these artists prove that the wisdom of traditional Korean ceramics continues to remain alive today, even after some 5,000 years.
The versatility and distinctive characteristics of contemporary Korean ceramics are effectively represented by the wide age difference of the contributing artists, ranging from the 30s to the 60s. Of note, the ceramics works enable visitors to see how Korea’s rich artistic traditions have been preserved and adapted according to the aesthetic sentiments of contemporary artists, who have d innovative forms based on their individual styles.
Thanks to the richness of Korean ceramics arts, contemporary artists can find considerable inspiration in these traditions, which can be transformed through their individual artistic s. Based on creative processes, they are linking past traditions with modern-day practices, along with casting a new light on the brilliance of Korea’s long-ago ceramics artistry. In Valencia, in advance of the opening ceremony for the exhibition, a press conference was held. The reporters and journalists first viewed the exhibition and then asked questions. In particular, their interests were focused on such matters as the ceramics history of Korea, and its development and current status. As for the works on display, there were several comments about the innovative forms, diverse styles, and unusual artistic techniques.
Following the opening ceremony the next day, many of the visitors praised the exhibition, while noting that they were especially impressed with the distinctiveness of this display, as well as the notable diversity of the works and the individual artistic s of the ceramics works. There were also a few visitors who said that the exhibition served as an inspiration for their own artistic pursuits.
Meanwhile, the lecture presentation by participating artist Han Hyang Lim attracted the attention of local ceramics artists. Her lecture included a description of her own works together with an overview of the contemporary trends of Korean ceramics.



The presentation also offered insight into Korea’s contemporary ceramics scene by introducing works that were not included in the exhibition. Above all, this lecture was a valuable opportunity for the local artistic community to gain an understanding of Korea’s contemporary ceramics, along with an appreciation of Korean culture in general.
In large part, contemporary Korean ceramics has not received this kind of attention and recognition. Through this exhibition, I believe that it has helped to build a strong foundation for reciprocal relations based on a mutual understanding of different cultures.
In order to attend the opening ceremony, Ms. Kim Hee Soo drove for four hours from the Korean Embassy in Madrid. On behalf of all the participating artists, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms. Kim for her assistance in organizing this exhibition. Finally, I would also like to express my heartfelt appreciation to International Arts and Artists for its planning of the “Tradition Transformed” event, and to the Korea Foundation whose support made this exhibition possible, as well as everyone else who contributed to making this exhibition a success.

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