Jae Gyu KIM Ceramic Artist

 

Theme - Animals and plants in the DMZ

 

 

The DMZ- The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is fraught with pain and scars caused by the division of the Korean Peninsula. Even so, this strip of land may actually be a peaceful, sacred place for plants and animals.

 

Yanggu -  As an area that produces ceramics, Yanggu has drawn attention since the Goryeo period. This region once supplied materials to white porcelain kilns in Bunwon-ri, Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province during the Joseon Dynasty, a site which produced white porcelain. Its technique and modeling beauty were transplanted to Yanggu white porcelain. (Source: Yanggu Porcelain Museum)

 

Purpose - The subject matter of my work is the mountain goat living in an area of nature that is not fit for human access. I’d like to challenge the limitations of materials. Clay used for creating white porcelain is not appropriate for ceramic sculptures that measure over three meters high or long. I want to symbolically portray the sight of the DMZ with the purity and serenity of Joseon white porcelain.