I also visited BTS RM myself… Moon jar that can’t be bought even with tens of millions of won

The exhibition hall of Johyun Gallery in Busan, where artist Kwon Dae-seop’s solo exhibition is held. [사진 조현화랑]

Busan Johyun Gallery, Kwon Dae-seop Solo Exhibition. He focused his attention on creating a minimal space and lighting. [사진 조현화랑]

A total of 11 works were submitted in this exhibition, named by the artist. When the exhibition opened, collectors who had been waiting for his exhibition visited the Buryaburya exhibition hall. Two days have passed since the exhibition opened. However, the gallery representative said, “I plan not to sell the rest.” He is planning to stockpile his works for future overseas exhibitions. He said, “Selling itself in this exhibition didn’t mean much from the beginning. The most important purpose of this event was to show Kwon Dae-seop’s work well to more people.”

This is the story of a solo exhibition of potter Kwon Dae-seop, 69, currently being held at the Johyun Gallery in Dalmajigogae, Busan. This exhibition will reveal 11 new white porcelain jars made by the artist in recent years (one is at Haeundae branch). All of the new works are large moon jars about 55 cm high. In order to highlight the few white porcelain jars, the gallery blocked the light by blocking the glass window of the exhibition hall overlooking the sea with a temporary wall. In addition, we put great effort into controlling the light falling on the jar by installing the light using Korean paper low.

Kwon Dae-seop’s moon jar. It is a large moon jar with a height of 55 cm. [사진 조현화랑]

Kwon Dae-seop’s moon jar is famous as an item that not only general collectors but also art professionals, such as the representative of the gallery who runs the gallery, want to own. It is no exaggeration to say that the moon jar of Kwon Dae-seop, along with the paintings of the artist Yoon Hyeong-geun (1928-2007), emerged as an icon of Korean contemporary art. It is thanks to the charm that shows excellent harmony with not only antiques but also minimal and modern works.

BTS RM (Kim Nam-jun), who has emerged as an influencer in the art world, is also in the ranks of Kwon Dae-seop’s moon jar collector. RM not only personally visited Kwon Dae-seop’s studio in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do last year, but also released a picture taken with Kwon Dae-seop’s moon jar in his arms on social media.

Park Ryeo-suk Gallery, Seoul, left Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam in 2019, and moved to Yongsan Itaewon, choosing Kwon Dae-seop as the first artist of the new space, and also opened the private development of Kwon Dae-seop in September-October last year. Kwon Dae-seop’s moon jar was also exhibited before’Time in Space: The Lifestyle’, the youngest son of last month at PKM Gallery in Seoul. In the exhibition that showcased both Eastern and Western art works and design furniture, the moon jar shined under the paintings of Gyeomjae Jeongseon (1676~1759). The exhibition’Mac: 脈 (Soul, Matter, and Sound)’, currently held at the gallery structure in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, introduces the work of Seok Cheol-ju and the moon jar of Kwon Dae-seop. He selected him as a master who has contemporarily reinterpreted our classics and has succeeded in that line.

As such, Kwon Dae-seop is evaluated as an artist who succeeded in the tradition of Joseon white porcelain in the current Korean art world, built his own formative world, and raised ceramics to the level of fine art. Why are collectors so excited about Kwon Dae-seop’s moon jar? CEO Jo Hyun picks the secret to “a delicate and subtle difference that is difficult to express in words.” It reveals the most natural aesthetics in color and format. At first glance, the moon jars all look similar, but there are differences in details such as the height of the heel and the curves of the shoulder and waist. His moon jar is not white, but close to milky, and the fact that it is slightly agitated like a real moon is revered as his own’hand taste’.

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Beth McKillop, former deputy director of Victoria & Albert, UK, wrote in a 2018 article, “Kwon Dae-seop’s kiln and workshop located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, is the center of existing ceramics.” Machilop said, “The pure white moon jar harmonizes well with modern spaces with its personality and rich charm,” and “The pale hue (of the moon jar) looks different depending on the weather and time when you see it.”

Kwon Dae-seop’s worn-out jar exhibition at the Johyun Gallery in Busan. [사진 조현화랑]

Born in 1952, Kwon Dae-seop studied Western painting at Hongik University. Having enjoyed antique art since college, he accidentally saw white porcelain in Insa-dong in his late twenties and then chose the path of pottery. He studied ceramics at Nabeshimayo, Kyushu, Japan for five years from 1979, and held his first domestic exhibition at Deokwon Museum of Art in 1995. And in 2018, at an auction in London, England, it was auctioned off at £52,500 (approximately 7 million won), which is nearly triple the estimate, and it attracted attention. The Belgian gallery Axelberborg also published a collection of works introducing Kwon Dae-seop’s work to European collectors. Currently, his moon jar is in the collections of Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, Korean Folklore Museum, Gime Museum (France), St. Petersburg National Museum (Russia), and Chicago Institute of Art (USA).

CEO Jo Hyun said, “The moon jar that the artist Kwon Dae-seop makes for a year is so few that he can count on his fingers. Moreover, it is more difficult to make the 55cm tall pot that is introduced this time. I waited while gathering.” “The artist’s overseas exhibitions are not currently open because of Corona 19, but his works are much more popular abroad than in Korea,” said CEO Jo. said. The exhibition is until March 7.

Busan = Lee Eun-ju, senior culture reporter [email protected]