I am thrilled that, for the first time, a Ceramic House exhibition transfers to Sladmore Contemporary, a validation of a seven-year journey curating shows at The Ceramic House, and an exciting new step for developing projects outside of the domestic arena.
Made in Korea is at leading Mayfair Gallery, Sladmore Contemporary, 32 Bruton Place, London WJ1 6NW from July 12th, – 28th July.
The show Made in Korea is part of a wider cultural exchange between the UK and Korea evolving throughout 2017 in Brighton, London, Stoke-on-Trent and Seoul. With 20 artists from Korea, 5 from the UK, and encompassing 4 exhibitions, 4 concerts, an international residency, and the launch of a unique audio guide, Made in Korea is seventh and most ambitious Ceramic House project to date.
The phrase ‘Made in Korea’ is often synonymous with the mass production of ephemeral objects. Korean ceramic tradition stretches back several millennia, and the artists featured throughout this project reinterpret and rework this historic legacy. The displayed works combine contemporary references and highly individualised techniques, placing this impressive heritage within the world of globalised culture.
The idea for Made in Korea came from meeting Kyung Won Baek at the International Ceramic Research Centre in Denmark in 2014. Both of us were artists-in-residence, working on independent projects. We shared the experience of discovering the astonishing effects that can be obtained through soda-wood firing, a specialist technique of firing ceramics. I was developing a new body of botanical-inspired work in response to the Danish summer landscape that has had a lasting influence on my practice. It is this soda-wood fired work, Botanical Structures III, that I am proud to present at Sladmore Contemporary. I selected this piece because of its resonance as a product of my initial meeting with Kyung Won Baek and therefore a catalyst in bringing together this exhibition and wider project, Made in Korea.
Supported by an Artists International Development Fund award from Arts Council England, I travelled to South Korea in autumn 2016 to research the project. Baek prepared an itinerary and for three weeks I travelled around Korea, meeting artists in their studios, visiting ceramic centres, residencies, museums and galleries. I studied collections of traditional Korean ceramics as well as contemporary exhibitions, and was enthralled by the exceptional quality of everything I saw. Planning took two years, seeking artists, partners and venues to create this multi-faceted project. The artists selected represent some of the most exciting practitioners working today and it is an honour to present their work at Sladmore Contemporary.
Sladmore Contemporary 12th – 28th July
British Ceramics Biennial 22nd Sept – 5th November
Mullae Art Factory, Seoul 4th – 12th November
Follow Kay’s blog about the project here: https://www.a-n.co.uk/blogs/made-in-korea
Fifteen Korean ceramic artists have been selected to participate in the exhibition, who are based in South Korea, France, Germany, USA and UK.
KYUNG WON BAEK MYUNG NAM AN. JIN EUI KIM. JONG JIN PARK SUN KIM JAE JUN LEE SANG WOO KIM WOOK JAE MAENG JUNG EUN HAN VERONICA JUYOUN BYUN EUI JEONG YOO CHUN BOK LEE MIN SOO LEE HYE MI LEE BO KYUNG KIM KAY APLIN
