One of my favorite place when I visited Korea in 2009 was Korean National Museum. I could say it is one of my favorite place in the world, period. A tiny piece of Korean National Museum was brought to Paris and I was thrilled. The exhibition on the masterpieces of Korean ceramics opened at the Grand Palais in Paris a few days ago and I had to go see them. Just stepping in to the exhibition area at the Grand Palais gave me goosebumps just like it did 6 years ago when I went through the art of my country at the Korean National Museum in Seoul. The works of my ancestors starting from the Neolithic period are amazing. What brilliant talents. I always marvel at French artists dating back to Neolithic cave paintings, but my Korean ancestors were as marvelous, both are intensely spiritual, but I have to say the Korean ceramics belongs in its own spiritual realm.
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| Grand Palais, Paris |
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| Grand Palais, Paris |
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| Bunchung style from Unified Shilla period |
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| Bunchung ceramics |
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| moon jar from joseon period |
It is a rare chance for people in Europe to come and see the exhibition. It has wonderful selection from 5th century to 18th century masterpieces. I found this quote from the exhibition catalog especially incredible and am glad Korean culture is getting more recognition today.
'In the Korean peninsula, celadon was first produced in the tenth century, during the Goryeo period, after the introduction of ceramic production techniques from China, But Goryeo celadon soon began to diverge from its Chinese counterpart, as potters sought to develop new styles that matched the aesthetics of the Goryeo people. The jade color of Goryeo celadon represents the harmonious blend of blue and green, softened and accented by delicate gloss. Indeed, the sublime jade-colored glaze was considered to be the "best under heaven," according to a record from China's Southern Song Dynasty.'
Namaste
