Ceramic holds special meaning for Korean people. In particular, “Bisaek celadon, the best under heaven” and the Dalhangari, also known as the Moon Jar (White Porcelain Jar), stand as representative symbols of a national aesthetic sense. Ceramics are “artifacts that are produced out of Dogi and Jagi depending on the times and environment” and have become symbols that afford us insights into our own lives and culture. The exhibition Unfolding the Dynamics of Modern Ceramics in Korea presents ceramics, which have been transformed within the modern environment and taken on various roles, in the context of this esteemed ceramic heritage.

Korea has experienced many periods of rapid change after its independence, and ceramics have also undergone change and growth in response. Despite such change, modern Korean ceramics have never completely abandoned their traditional values. Aesthetics scholar Ko Yuseop (1905-1944) defined tradition as immutable values that are “always newly understood in the now of forever” in a world that is ever changing. This exhibition examines how Korean ceramics embrace tradition, and how they found their role within modern society. The exhibition is divided by period and features a variety of ceramic works, including traditional ceramics, sculptural ceramics, and installations.