Kwon Dae-sup's moon jar portrays Korean beauty

Kwon Dae-sup's "Moon Jars" / Courtesy of the artist and Park Ryu Sook Gallery

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Kwon Dae-sup, a ceramic artist, has dedicated over four decades of his life to recreating the beauty of the moon jar, a type of plain white porcelain jar in the shape of a moon, originating from the late Joseon Kingdom.

An exhibition at the new Park Ryu Sook Gallery features 18 of Kwon's spherical moon jars, which resemble the glistening full moon. This exhibit commemorates the gallery's move from Cheongdam-dong in southern Seoul to a new venue in Itaewon.

Opened in 1983, Park Ryu Sook Gallery has been a pioneer in introducing Korean and international contemporary art. Founder and President Park Ryu-sook is deeply interested in Korean artists and craftsmen who showcase “Koreanness,” including "Dansaekwa," a Korean style of monochrome painting.

"I picked Kwon for the opening exhibition of our new Itaewon gallery as he is the artist who represents the essence of Korean beauty. This is not just a craftwork, but a piece of contemporary art," Park said.

Kwon majored in painting at Hongik University, but fascinated by the graceful beauty of a Korean moon jar he came across at an antique shop he educated himself to become a potter. He makes pottery in a traditional kiln and throws away those that are not perfect without mercy, leaving him with about one or two ceramic jars per batch. He typically produces about six ceramic works a year.

Kwon Dae-sup's "Moon Jar" / Courtesy of the artist and Park Ryu Sook Gallery

"I try to produce work that needs no addition or subtraction. I wish to create work that has an imposing presence but harmonizes with its surroundings regardless of where and when it is displayed. It should give peace of mind and a sense of comfort to all who look at it," the artist was quoted saying.

Park said Kwon's works embody the spirit of Joseon porcelain, instead of merely imitating the exterior.

"I am enthralled by the charms of Korean white porcelain, including those made in the Joseon era, but it is difficult for a contemporary artist to make something that touches viewers," Park said. "Most modern potters just make the porcelain white and shiny, but Kwon's moon jars have a subtle milky glaze. I think Kwon is the most Korean artist, who succeeds the tradition of Korean white porcelain."

His 20-inch-tall "Moon Jar" created in 2014 garnered a whopping 52,500 British pounds, about three times the estimate, during an auction at Christie's in London in October 2018.

Gallerist Park said this signals the beginning of recognizing the value of Korean ceramics.

Another person who recognized the beauty of the pure, white moon jars of Kwon was Axel Vervoordt, a Belgian designer and antiquary. Vervoordt is an avid collector of Korean porcelain and held a major exhibition of Kwon's works at his Antwerp Gallery in 2015 and 2018 and published a book on the pottery master.

"While keeping the tradition of Korean pottery, he attempts to communicate the aesthetics of moon jars to audience of the contemporary world by transferring essential traits of simplicity and a sense of modesty," Axel Vervoordt Gallery said in a statement.

The exhibit runs through Nov. 11.