World Ceramics Tour in 60 Days!
(September 24, 2011)

Grand opening of the GIC Biennale on September 23^rd at Icheon Cerapia
Event runs until November 22^nd at Icheon, Yeoju, and Gwagju, leading ceramic cities

– The 2011 Gyeonggi International CereMix Biennale (GIC Biennale), held this year under the theme of “Journey from Fire,” began on the 23^rd of September at Icheon Cerapia. It will be open to visitors until November 22^nd. Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo and VIP guests browse the ceramic wares after attending the opening ceremony. (GNews Plus)

The 2011 GIC Biennale Korea opened at Icheon Cerapia inside Seolbong Park of Icheon on September 23^rd under 2011’s theme of ‘Journey from Fire.’ The event will run for two months until November 22^nd.

The biennale, which marks its sixth edition this year, has been hosted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and supervised by the Korea Ceramic Foundation since 2001.

Icheon Cerapia was the venue for the grand opening along with the event’s initial ceremony, with Governor Kim, Korea Ceramic Foundation Chairman Kang U-hyeon, and five hundred related officials in attendance.

The provincial government spent KRW 1.2 billion on ceramic artworks made by masters from all over Korea, collecting 480,000 in total. Ninety tons of ceramic artwork were put together by handpicked artists at Icheon Cerapia, a ceramics theme park. The lake, exhibition halls, bathroom, and playground were all made with ceramics.

The opening event began with a performance by Goguryeo, a rock band that combines Korean traditional court music with rock, followed by the award ceremony for the GIC Biennale International Competition. The grand prize went to Tetsuya Yamada’s Heavenly Thought, with other awards going to a total of 25 artists from nineteen countries. Governor Kim and Chairman Kang gave congratulatory speeches announcing the event’s official start. – Governor Kim hands the grand prize to Tetsuya Yamada for Heavenly Thoughts and posed for photos to mark the occasion. (GNews Plus)

Governor Kim said, “We have cut the budget to one third of that for the last event, but we have used it wisely and focused on entertainment. We will work together with the Korea Ceramic Foundation to help improve the quality of ceramics around the world.”

Chairman Kang U-hyeon said, “Our goal is to promote Icheon Cerapia to the world through this biennial event. Icheon Cerapia, Gonjiam Ceramic Park, and Yeoju Doja Sesang will work closely to create a ceramic tourist cluster.”

One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five artists from 71 countries entered the biennial contest. Among the 3,362 pieces, 160 were picked for exhibition, in which members of the European Ceramics Work Center will be showcasing their avant-garde works and representing modern French ceramics.

There are plenty of interesting activities to take part in, and you can even make your own ceramic works through the CeraMIX Creation and I am an artist, too! programs. Quality ceramics will be available for purchase by theme and category. Famous musicians and bands will perform on the weekends. 

-Twenty-five artists from nineteen countries have been awarded at this year’s GIC Biennale. Governor Kim and the artists pose for a photo shoot. (GNews Plus)

The Korea Ceramic Foundation has prepared an online website at ceramicinfor.org to provide information on Korean ceramics for the first time through a portal. Now people can browse masterpieces of Korean ceramics on the web.

Ceramicinfo features information on 1,169 ceramic artists from Korea, and keeps 1,865 important ceramic workshops on its list. It also has over 15,000 books in its database, information on past Ceramic Biennales, and information on masters, ceramic artworks, and available residencies.

A member of the foundation said, “Ceramicinfo not only features information on Korea’s ceramic scene but is also the only site of its kind in the artistic world. We want it to become a place for exchange and communication for artists from all around the world, transcending space and nationality.”

-GNews Plus News | Son Rak-hun kuni1202@naver.com

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201109240402427055C049&s_code=C049