Vessel

This video was created for the exhibition Dual Natures in Ceramics: Eight Contemporary Artists from Korea in 2014–2015. Koo Bohnchang experiments through this work to capture qualities of his refined photography as well as the diversity of ceramics. In this video, the artist invites viewers to appreciate the simple lines and forms of whiteware during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), which contemporary artists and connoisseurs have always praised.

The vessels featured in the video are from several museums, including the Asian Art Museum, and are transmuted from three-dimensional to two-dimensional art forms. There is a subtle transition between each piece that plays with this transformative feature, highlighting the relationship between each vessel’s functionality and the artisan’s creativity. Koo has always been drawn to what he sees as the animate, almost-human qualities of whiteware, and this surreal presentation compels viewers to reflect on
those features.