By Honorary Reporter Choi King Chiu from Hong Kong
Photos = Choi King Chiu

The Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) in Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Korean Ceramic Foundation, through Nov. 18 hosts the exhibition "Korean Ceramic Pavilion at Fine Art Asia." The remarkable collection of ceramic objects and works by 10 Korean artisans offer their own interpretations of the art form.

Visiting the KCC on Oct. 25 to see the exhibition, I saw upon entering the venue Lee Joon-sung's traditional-style art including human figures dressed in traditional Korean attire. His works exuded a sense of elegance and tradition reminiscent of the exquisite white porcelain from the Joseon Dynasty.

Shin Won-dong's "Moon Jar"

The exhibition also showed a modern interpretation of traditional ceramic art exemplified by Shin Won-dong's "Moon Jar," a traditional white porcelain vessel in the style of the craft during the Joseon Dynasty. Its distinctive shape features a wider mouth than that of the bottom and an elegant and simple aesthetic.

Shin's jars maintained the classic sense of elegance and simplicity but with a modern twist. The rims at the top were less pronounced and the waist gently tapered into the bottom. The appearance was also less glossy per the popular minimalist trend often seen in contemporary design.

Hwang Jae-won's "Bok-Soon"

Vibrant pop art was also featured. One piece that caught my attention was Hwang Jae-won's "Bok-Soon," a collection of five lovely poodle works in a range of colors and materials. The works in porcelain and glaze white and black had a glossy appearance, while those of porcelain and rhinestone pink and purple sparkled like precious crystals. My favorite was the porcelain and mother-of-pearl work, which shimmered with an enchanting iridescence.

Ha Tae-hun's teacups with the lids sporting traditional icons

In addition, ceramic objects for everyday use were shown such as tea and espresso cups and bell goblets. I was especially drawn to Ha Tae-hun's beautiful milky-white tea cups with lids sporting traditional icons such as a pagoda and the figure of Buddha. These embellishments added a touch of cultural heritage to give the cups a traditional appeal.

The exhibition offers a glimpse of the vast range of possibilities within ceramic art and the versatility and creativity of contemporary Korean artists in the field.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.