ICHEON: Reviving the Korean Ceramics Tradition

The American Museum of Ceramic Art is honored to present ICHEON: Reviving the Korean Ceramics Tradition, an unprecedented exhibition organized by Icheon, South Korea. Icheon has a history of ceramic culture that began over 5000 years ago and has a reputation for its internationally renowned ceramics cultural events. Now Icheon has reached out to an American institution for the very first time. As the premiere exhibition of its kind in the United States, ICHEON presents over 200 objects never before seen on American soil that exemplify the revival of the ceramics tradition in Korea from antique techniques to contemporary innovations. The works on display represent the rich Korean ceramics culture and the modern advances Icheon ceramists continue to make in developing ceramic art of the future. As a leader in traditional crafts, Icheon’s ceramics have become sought after works of art and are deeply-seated in Korea’s local economy. The city’s vital role in ceramics has made it possible for Icheon to become the best and largest center in Korea’s crafts today. Icheon is the home of over 350 studios and potteries that specialize in traditional, contemporary, and high-tech applications of the ceramic body. Although technological advances constantly redefine the ceramic industry, Korean ceramic artists strive to preserve the tradition of peace, simplicity, and spiritual temperance of Koran art. Thus, this exciting exhibition epitomizes the height of a rich tradition of Korean ceramics, cemented both in the past and the future. Consistent with the strong preservation of cultural identity through Korean art, ICHEON: Reviving the Korean Ceramics Tradition places traditional pieces in the context of the expanse of Korean history and in the global context of functional and contemporary ceramic art. AMOCA invites you to revel in this visual collaboration between two countries and two communities whose dedication to ceramics is unmatched. The ceramic community here at AMOCA is indebted to Icheon for this incredible opportunity and we are honored to share it with you. The relationship between Icheon and AMOCA and the execution of this project was brought about by Edward Ahn, Icheon’s Honorary Ambassador.