Clayarch Gimhae Museum

Where Ceramics Meets Architecture


By Park Chung-a
Staff Reporter

Kimhae, South Kyongsang ã…¡ Chillye-myon of Kimhae city in South
Kyongsang province is the cradle of the Kaya civilization(42-199 A.D.)
and a birthplace of Kimhae earthenware. Likewise, Kimhae has been famous
for its white porcelain and is regarded as the home of the tea bowl to
the Japanese. Potters began settling in Kimhae, starting the Kimhae Kiln
in 1975, and about 100 pottery workshops are currently active in the
district.


The outer wall of the round-shaped Clayarch Gimhae Museum is composed of
4,440 colorful fired ceramic tiles made by director Shin Sang-ho, making
the museum itself a part of its own collection.
Against such backdrop, the Clayarch Gimhae Museum opened in the very
place on Friday to newly promote Kimhae as the hometown of architectural
ceramics. The name of the museum ``Clayarch,'' is a compound word that
reflects a coalition between clay and architecture. Although the concept
of architectural ceramics may seem unfamiliar to some people, it is
already widespread in our lives, used in various sources of
architectures such as bricks, tiles and sanitation fixtures. ``We aim at
establishing convenient and artistic architectural surroundings by
taking advantage of strong points of both architecture and ceramic
art,'' said Shin Sang-ho, the founding director of the museum and
ceramic art professor of Hongik University in an opening speech for the
ceremony.

The opening ceremony of the museum on Friday afternoon was held in a
festive mood with artists and students coming from Korea as well as
abroad who came to see the world's first museum specializing in
architectural ceramics. ``Attention and interest towards architectural
ceramics have been gradually increasing in various parts of the world.
Riding on such a trend, we are aiming at taking the role of pioneering
the field of architectural ceramics,'' said Shin.

The museum is a complex facility which allows visitors not only view
works by renowned ceramic architecture artists but also experience
making pottery along with artists through various education programs.

Boasting a total area of 8,320 square meters, Clayarch Gimhae Museum is
composed of an exhibition hall, artist-in-residency, clay academy,
storage vault for artworks, museum shop, cafeteria, pottery shop as well
as Clayarch Tower, the symbol of the museum.

The outer wall of the round-shape museum is composed of 4,440 colorful
fired ceramic tiles produced by director Shin, making the museum itself
become a part of the museum's own collection. Based on the motive of
pattern of primitive art and traditional Korean colors, these fired
paintings have been fixed to the building without additional adhesive
elements.

The glass dome covering the main hall of the museum expresses the spirit
of transparent and active communication between art and people as well
as harmony between nature and art. Stone slabs are used in the front
yard of the entrance to the exhibition hall, adding to the grandeur of
the museum.

To mark the opening of the museum, the museum is holding an
International Architectural Ceramic Exhibition until October 3,
featuring 47 works by 16 leading architectural ceramic artists from 10
countries.

``I think the works are very well displayed in harmony with the
surroundings, taking the effect derived from the relationship between
work and space into account,'' said Daniel Pontoreau from France, one of
the participating artists who came to the opening of the museum.

``It is impressive that Korea is taking an international perspective in
connecting ceramics and architecture in a modern way,'' said Ole
Lislerud, another participating artist and professor of Olso National
Academy of Art.

While Nino Caruso, Italy's first generation of architectural ceramics
explained his own works at the exhibition hall, Tony Hepburn, a British
artist showed a work titled ``Korean Gate,'' inspired by Korean celadon
porcelain.

The museum has been facing some opposition from local ceramic artists,
however. While the opening ceremony took place in the museum, there were
a group of local ceramic artists holding pickets demonstrating against
the event. ``The process of construction and selecting works of the
museum has been done without participation from local potters,'' said
Kim Tae-soo, executive director of Kimhae Ceramic Art Association,
representing local potters. ``Although there are about 180 members in
our association, director Shin offered us only 150 square meters, which
is too small. In protest, we did not contribute our works to the opening
exhibition.''

However, director Shin said that the ultimate purpose of the museum is
to promote the local pottery industry in cooperation with local pottery
people and ceramic artists by holding various pottery festivals
promoting sales of pottery works. For more information, call
(055)340-7016 or click on to www.clayarch.org



03-27-2006 17:41