[Quest for Extraordinary Museums (9)] Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum
(Published March 19, 2012)

Now in its 11^th year… ceramic culture and history at a glance

The Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum in Gwangju was home to various royal kilns for more than 500 years during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1910).

The Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum opened 11 years ago when the 2001 World Ceramic Exposition was held in Korea. Its initial name, ‘Joseon Royal Kiln Museum,’ was changed to the current one in 2008. It is the largest ceramic museum in Korea, and it is preparing for the next stage in its evolution.

A museum based on traditions and history
The Gwangju royal kilns were controlled by the Gwangju branch office of the central government. The Gwangju office was called Bunwon (a branch) and was under the control of Saongwon at the royal court (Saongwon was responsible for court food). The Gwangju kilns produced white porcelain tableware for the royal court.

The kilns came under the direct management of the royal court late in the 15^th century. In 1883, they were privatized. Over the centuries, the kilns were relocated to different locations around the Gwangju county in pursuit of trees for fuel until 1752 (the 28^th year of King Yeongjo’s reign) when they finally settled in Bunwon-ri of Namjong-myeon, Gyeonggi Province.

Gwangju is recorded as the birthplace of Joseon white porcelain and also as the site of royal kilns throughout the 500 years of the Joseon Dynasty.

Currently, more than 340 kilns and kiln sites in 30 villages of six districts in Gwangju City are designated as National Historic Site No. 314 and subject to protection.

Of particular note, the Bunwon Royal Porcelain Museum in Bunwon-ri of Namjong-myeon is the location of the last kiln of the Joseon Dynasty. The museum features the remains of buried kiln and pieces of white porcelain.

Analysis of these remains helps to further clarify the history of the kilns in the region and highlights the significance of Joseon white porcelain.

Largest Korean white porcelain museum
The Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum undertakes a variety of activities to preserve Korean ceramic culture and traditional artistic spirit. The museum also endeavors to develop new traditions for posterity.

The museum plays a central role in Korean ceramic research by collecting and exhibiting ceramic works created by master craftsmen from the beginning of Korean pottery until the present day. It regularly participates in archeological excavations and academic research of cultural properties and ceramics, and also hosts international exhibitions and academic conferences.

Moreover, the museum helps the general public understand ceramic culture through lectures and field trips so as to contribute to a richer cultural life.

Exhibitions
Visitors to the museum can learn about the concepts and history of ceramic making in the Ceramic Culture Hall located on the 1^st floor, before they move on to other parts of the museum. The permanent collection on the 2^nd floor features not only Korean historical ceramic masterpieces but also modern ceramic works of art from the beginning of the 20^th century up to now.

Studies of Cultural Properties and Academic Seminars
The museum carries out archeological surveys and excavations of ceramic kilns as well as studies of related literature. The findings are shared through a variety of reports and presented to historical and archeological societies. The Gyeonggi Ceramic Academic Seminar has a ten-year history and takes place at the museum every December.

Educational Programs
The Ceramic Museum offers diverse educational programs.

Popular education programs include making leaflets before touring the exhibition halls to obtain key knowledge about ceramics, preparing personalized mugs upon which visitors draw their own pictures, and making key rings using pre-sensitized plates with ceramic shapes and patterns.

The educational programs wrap up at the beginning of winter and resume in April. For details about the programs and schedules, refer to the website of the museum.

Gonjiam Ceramic Park
The museum plans to create Gonjiam Ceramic Park, which will embrace the regional characteristics of Gwangju and the traditions of Joseon ceramic culture. The park will center on the museum and include the surrounding kiln sites among others.

Once the Gwangju Gonjiam Ceramic Theme Park is complete, a ceramic tourism cluster will come to life in southeastern Gyeonggi Province with the Gwangju Ceramic Museum, Yeoju Ceramic World and Icheon Cerapia.

The 1^st phase of the Gonjiam Ceramic Park will be completed in July.

The museum plans to open an exhibition hall for Paleolithic and pre-historic culture with the Paleolithic remains that are available within the boundaries of the museum (Sam-ri, Gwangju). The exhibition will also feature hands-on programs.

The exhibition hall will also present the history of tool development in the Paleolithic Age as well as the geographical distribution of the remains of that age in Korea with a particular emphasis on Sam-ri Paleolithic Age remains – which are regarded as being representative of that period in central Korea. In hands-on programs, visitors will be able to make leather clothes, go hunting and engage in cave painting.

The Gonjiam Ceramic Park aims to become a theme park where nature, history and art co-exist. The park will embrace the current outdoor sculpture park as well as the ecological garden in the park.

The Gonjiam Ceramic Park will become a place where the past and present meet under the theme of ceramics in an environment-friendly space, as well as a venue where small hills merge with flatland and trails and sculptures perfectly complement each other.

The Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum is located at 72-1 Sam-ri, Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province. It is open daily from 9a.m. to 6p.m. It is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. For further details, refer to the website (www.ggcm.or.kr) or call 031-799-1500.

Inquiry Tel. 8008-2688