August 22, 2010 – February 13, 2011
Life in Ceramics surveys the range of perspectives found among contemporary Korean ceramicists, bringing together for the first time the work of five important artists: Yikyung Kim, In Chin Lee, Kang Hyo Lee, Youngjae Lee, and Kwang-cho Yoon.
Korean ceramics have been admired since the 12th century for their superb craftsmanship and original shapes, techniques and design, as well as an aesthetic “liveliness” they are said to embody. These contemporary ceramicists take familiar, everyday forms such as bowls and vases as a starting point from which to explore the aesthetic beauty of these shapes as works of art. Each produces work grounded in Korea’s ancient ceramic traditions, but take it in new and surprising directions. Moreover, the five artists in this exhibition carry on multi-faceted careers as both artists and designers of daily ware. Objects from each artist’s daily ware line will also be shown, so that visitors can examine how these artists make the distinction between fine art and functional design in their own practice.