Then on to the British Museum, as it was late opening night. At the entrance to the Korean gallery, this huge pot caught my eye. It's by Kim Ik-kyung (born 1935) and is based on a Choson period (1392-1910) rice measure, which would have been made in bronze. It's made from pure white porcelain clay, slab-built, carved and covered with a clear glaze. The potter studied chemistry and then ceramics in New York and was inspired by her admiration of Western potters, such as Bernard Leach, to explore her own native ceramic traditions.
This large vase, by Won Dae-jong (born 1920) is modelled in a traditional form and decorated around the shoulder with incised and inlaid lines of copper-red decoration beneath a clear glaze. Won Dae-jong's work echoes traditional Korean ceramics painted beneath the glaze with volatile copper oxide pigment.
The Percival David collection of Chinese ceramics has been beautifully rehoused in the British Museum - information on the individual pieces is available on computer screens, and the labels in the cases give more general information.
I love the way the case reflects the ceramics in other cases in the room -
... and I love the reflection, and scale, of the viewer in the Won Dae-jong vase photo.
ReplyDelete