KWAK KYUNG-TAE
A Solo Show
PREVIEW
Welcome to our first solo presentation of Korean artist Kwak Kyung-tae’s ceramic vessels and tableware.
A fascination with large Onggi vessels and the rough simplicity of Korean slipware led Kwak Kyung-tae to develop his own voice in clay. He works exclusively in 옹기 (Onggi) and 분청 (Buncheong), taking his inspiration from the traditions of the Korean peninsula of his birth and applying them in a modern context. His work is resonant of nature's forms and structures through wheel thrown and altered work, often including spontaneous marks and gestural brushwork on large pots.
“I first encountered Onggi in the spring of 1993 during my university’s annual ceramics wheel-throwing tournament. That morning began with a demonstration by an elder Onggi master. With striking ease and confidence, he stretched, stacked, and rhythmically paddled the clay into a massive, beautifully proportioned vessel. His movements were fluid yet grounded, rooted in a deep understanding of material, tradition and time.
I was completely transfixed. So much so that I nearly missed my time to compete. But in truth, the competition faded in importance. What stayed with me was the profound presence of that vessel and the quiet authority of the hands that shaped it.”
Kwak Kyung-Tae
