– Submissions Accepted Until September 30, 2008
– Show to Feature Excellent Ceramic Works from across the Globe

Gyeonggi Province and World Ceramic Exposition Foundation are accepting submissions for the 5th World Ceramic Biennale 2009 Korea International Competition from August 20 to September 30, 2008. The selected works will be exhibited at the 5th World Ceramic Biennale 2009 Korea.

The 5th International Competition is accepting submissions in two categories, which are Ceramics for Use and Ceramics for Expression, and registration for the preliminary image screening will be accepted until September 30, 2008. Submissions can be made online or via postal mail. Online submissions can be made at the website of the World Ceramic Exposition Foundation (www.wocef.com).

Awards will be given to works selected through the preliminary image screening and the final screening, and the awards ceremony will be held on April 25th, 2008, the opening date of the 5th World Ceramic Biennale 2009 Korea. The selected works will be exhibited at the Icheon World Ceramic Center.

Award-winning works will be promoted around the world at the World Ceramic Biennale and through the distribution of the International Competition catalogues. The Grand Prize winner and the Gold Prize winner will be given prize money of KRW 60 million and KRW 20 million, respectively, and there will be a total number of 26 prize winners.

The International Competition, a key event of the World Ceramic Biennale, aims to discover, develop, and support emerging artists with high potential. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the International Competition, which has served as a venue for works by artists from more than 60 nations are evaluated by world-renowned experts in ceramic art.

As most of the artists participating in the Competition are active on the international stage, the World Ceramic Biennale Korea has not only served as a competition but also as an important global exhibition that promotes future trends in ceramic art.

The 4th International Competition featured 2,444 artworks submitted by 1,436 artists from 66 nations, and Bodil Manz (female, 65) from Denmark was awarded the Grand Prize.

14 Asian artists, 9 European artists, 1 American artist, and 1 Oceanian artist won prizes at the 4th International Competition, showing a similar regional share to the 3rd International Competition. Korean artists took 50% of the awards given to Asian artists, winning 7 prizes. Big prizes like the Grand Prize and the Gold Prize were claimed by European artists, and many new artists showed outstanding performance at the Competition.

The World Ceramic Biennale International Competition is quickly becoming one of the world’s most prestigious ceramic competitions. It is extremely meaningful in that it serves as a venue for comparing the ceramic art of each nation, and sharing the future direction of contemporary ceramic art. It is also expected to promote the development of ceramic art in Korea.