KF뉴스레터-Masterpieces in Ceramics from the Victoria & Albert Museum

Masterpieces in Ceramics from the Victoria & Albert Museum

The exhibition “Masterpieces in Ceramics from the V&A” represents an important opportunity for both audiences in Korea and for the Victoria and Albert Museum. The exhibition offers audiences a chance to understand the history of world ceramics from a rare white unglazed earthenware vessel from China(2500 B.C.) and a simple Iraqi dish of around 800~900 A.D., to outstanding works from the 19th century and fine examples of contemporary works.

The Victoria and Albert Museum holds what is widely regarded as the most comprehensive collection of ceramics in the world, with objects of the highest quality and historical importance, and a total size of around 36,000. And the Museum is currently undertaking a $20-million refurbishment of the Ceramics galleries in London, and this provides a rare opportunity to tour highlights from the collection.
The exhibition will travel to Seoul (first stop), Düsseldorf, Istanbul, and Abu Dhabi. We were delighted to have Seoul, and the Korea Foundation Cultural Center, as the opening venue for a number of reasons. Firstly, the ceramic traditions of great Asian nations, especially China, Korea, and Japan, are central to any history and splendour of ceramics. During my visit, I was able to see the collections of the National Museum of Korea and Leeum, which served as a vivid reminder of the glorious celadon and buncheong wares. It also reminded me of the great subtlety of Korean “blue and white,” which remains under-appreciated in the West. I was also able to think about contemporary work too, and had the privilege of visiting the atelier of Park Young-sook.
The second reason is that while the Museum has strong curatorial links with Korea, this is, amazingly, the first time we have undertaken an exhibition project in this country. My thanks to Director Yoon Keum-jin and her amazing team for installing and displaying the exhibition to such a high standard. And I am also grateful for the support we received from the British Council. The 117 objects in the exhibition tell a complex and fascinating story about civilisation itself: the power of trade and cultural encounters, technical innovations sought by entrepreneurial potteries, and of the highest quality demanded by difficult patrons.
The exhibition contains a rare (2500 B.C.) white unglazed earthenware vessel from China, one of the earliest forms of porcelain. As porcelain arrived in the West, it excited wonder and interest in the Middle East, and the exhibition also contains a charmingly simple Iraqi dish of around 800-900 A.D., which has been painted with designs in cobalt blue. This innovation then returned East and played a crucial role in the foundation of the great “blue and white” tradition. One of the most important and valuable objects is a Yuan Dynasty flask (1300-1368), which is one of the earliest examples of the new wares. As you would expect, the show contains beautiful objects from the Song, Ming, and Joseon dynasties, plus important lustreware from Moorish Europe. It also contains fine examples of tinglazed earthenware from Renaissance Italy, including a delightful cherubic figure, originally part of an altarpiece by Della Robbia. Europe did not “crack” the secret of porcelain until 1709, in the factories of the Elector (Prince) of Saxony. Once discovered, the creation of complex and extravagant pieces became the highest fashion among European monarchies. One example is the huge “Billy Goat” created at the Meissen factory, which was intended to be just one of 600 life-size animals for display at the royal palace at Dresden. Another is the exquisite example of a dessert plate, from the Sevres factory, created for Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia. It was a demanding commission because 3,000 pieces were made in order to achieve the 800 perfect pieces she required. It is not surprising that with such extravagant wastage, she was rather horrified when the final bill arrived. However, ceramics also caught the imagination of the wider public, too. One splendid object is the “first edition” Portland vase created by the Englishman Josiah Wedgewood. The object was perfected after three years of experimentation and when completed in 1790 was shown to a select audience, who had to buy admission tickets in advance, such was the excitement it aroused.
Also on display are outstanding works from the 19th century and fine examples of contemporary work. Look out, in particular, for the fine work of Hamada Shoji, Lucie Rie, and Magdelene Odundo (one of my personal favourites). You can also see the sheer pleasure that ceramics give creative artists in the colourful work of Picasso or surreal creations of Richard Slee. I trust that the exhibition will give equal pleasure to visitors.

SEARCH

#Arts #KF #Seminar #KOREA

Masterpieces in Ceramics from the Victoria & Albert Museum

SEARCH

전체메뉴