I’d like to record impressions and reflections of personal experiences using shapes, and rhythms in my clay work. Basic elements such as lines, shapes, and masses without specific reference to a figure are some of my concerns when working with clay.
Spontaneity and naturalness are what I have always admired in Art. I have particularly valued the works that exist seemingly without effort. In recent years, my interest with functional objects and study of material culture – art, artifacts, specimens, documents that people can learn from its relationship to other objects, people, eras, and ideas – influenced my understanding and interpretation of “Traditional—i.e. functional” and “Contemporary—i.e. made for beauty and/or statement” ceramics.
For this exhibition, I explored traditional ritual vessels that were used in memorial rites in Korea. In the past, so much significance was attached to the forms, shapes, and materials, and I wanted to recreate my own to serve in my own rites. Although the context of “vessel” relates to the function and tradition of culture, the techniques I employ –mostly pinching and slab building—allow me to explore my interests in the spontaneity of the clay process. In a way, moving away from the home country and completely breaking down and rebuilding my cultural/artistic values helped me to create my own personal history with my work. I am freer to claim my own culture, though my root is still embedded with clay medium.
- Offerings (2022)
sizes vary, up to 7.5″ x 7.5″ x 3″ Celadon on stoneware and NC dark clays
sown 