Allegory of a Moon Jar III

Inspired by the moon jar in the Asian Art Museum’s collection (on view in Gallery 22), Young June Lew created a new painting series exploring the white porcelain made during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1911). Since 1973, when she immigrated to the United States, Lew has seen many different moon jars in other US museums but never explored traditional Korean art in her works. When she encountered the moon jar in this museum, she felt as if the work spoke to her, and was inspired to emphasize what she calls the “living quality” of the jar.

In the background stands Diamond Mountains, a historically sacred site in North Korea. Lew reconstructed the scenic place based on a childhood memory, recalling when she saw a photograph of her parents traveling in the mountains. Although it is from memory, Lew’s brushwork strikingly resembles the actual landscape. The resulting work represents the artist’s personal nostalgia for a scenic site frequently rendered by artists.