World Ceramic Biennale Korea features International Contest Winners (September 9, 2011)

Visit the 2011 World Ceramic Biennale Korea.
Leave the daily grind behind you and visit a whole new world.
Relax, have fun, and get some rest for a change.
Never mind the people around you.
Find peace of mind and leave your worries behind.
Get ready for a journey into a whole new world.
Can you feel this great new energy?

I believe all forms of art refine the human mind.
I am pretty sure someone famous has already said that.

The 2011 World Ceramic Biennale Korea is scheduled to run from September 24 to November 22 at Gwangju, Yeoju, and other cities in Gyeonggi Province. As this year¡¯s theme ‘Journey of Fire’ indicates, the festival is embarking on a new journey to merge other art genres with ceramics.

The Icheon Ceramics Festival, scheduled in conjunction with the Gyeonggi Biennale, is a great chance for the public to see the works of masters that have been entered in various international competitions and exhibitions. Try your hand at making a ceramic object, play in the sandbox, make woodprints, or take part in a kiln fire camp or ceramics experience program and much, much more.

The long festival period and the sheer number of participants make the Biennale indisputably the best Korean culture festival. For the 2011 event, the stiffly formal VIP opening has been boldly cut out to devote more time to programs for the general public.

The competition of the 2011 World Ceramic Biennale Korea, now in its sixth year, will bring together 1,875 artists from 71 countries with 3,362 entries. In terms of participating artists, the Biennale is truly a world-class festival.

Japanese ceramics artist Tetsuya Yamada (43) won the grand prize in this year’s competition with his entry Heavenly Thought. He will take home KRW 50 million, the largest award among all ceramics competitions worldwide.

Image

Heavenly Thought captured the spotlight during the evaluation session for its refined shape, pure colors, and depth. Tetsuya Yamada is currently living in the United States and is a member of the European Ceramics Work Center. The judges believed his artwork demonstrates the diversity and breadth derived from his experience.
The Golden Awards went to Pivot by Korean artist Kim Ae-young (25), Detail (version2) by Danish artist Anders Ruhwald (37), and 2005.05.12 by Chinese artist Fuwei Meng (35). Meng’s entry grabbed the judges’ attention with its theme of the devastating Sichuan earthquake. The Silver Award went to Thousand Kilometer View by Chinese Li Ya Wan (48), and five other contestants were chosen. Twenty-five prize winners and 151 select entries will be on display at the CeraMix Creativity Center in Icheon Cerapia (from September 24th to November 22nd), where the 2011 World Ceramic Biennale Korea is taking place.As mentioned earlier, instead of the formal opening event there will be a Mix-Mix Festival, Art Mix Performance, Children’s Creative Workshop, World Ceramics Experience, and Cerapia Sculpting Class to encourage greater audience participation in ceramic activities.

You might want to drop by the Icheon Ceramics Festival if you are in the neighborhood. For one month until October 23rd, visitors can make large flowerpots, folk toys, and their own pots, visit the hot spring, and fire up a kiln among many other interesting activities.

Admission to the Icheon Ceramics Festival is free. You can experience a seodang (private village elementary school), make your own ceramics, and enjoy the hot spring at Ceramics World in exchange for a small fee.

Icheon Ceramics Festival
Inquiries: +82-31-644-2942~5The Biennale’s entry fee is KRW 8,000 for adults and KRW 4,000 for grade school and kindergarten students.

When the Biennale is over, the facilities in Icheon, Gwangju, and Yeoju will become a ceramics theme park that will be open to tourists all year round. Those of you who do not have the time to visit the Biennale can visit these newly opened parks and browse the ceramic works at your leisure.

Come to the 2011 World Ceramic Biennale Korea with your family, friends or significant others and make memories you’ll never forget.

2011 World Ceramic Biennale Korea official website
Korea Ceramic Foundation official website
Inquiries: +82-31-645-0618
World Ceramic Biennale Korea official twitter: @kocef
World Ceramic Biennale Korea: go to the Facebook page

Written by Cheon Mi-gyeong
Photos provided by the Korea Ceramics Foundation