Friday, May 23, 2003

Ceramic Incensories and the piece that changed my world- OK, take a look a this piece, then come back...I'll wait... This piece is Korean National Treasure number 95. It is a celedon incense burner from the Goryeo Dynasty, probably used to burn incense on a Buddhist alter. *. It was created during the 12th century, around the peak of the Goryeo period, and displays a mastery of multiple techniques in its construction and glaze/firing. It is currently housed in the National Museum of Korea*. On April 29, 1987 I first saw the piece on a visit to Korea. I was sort of interested in ceramics and art/craft, at that time so was open to it. I even made a tiny sketch of it in my journal that night. What struck me was its complexity and use. Today we'd make these types of things out of plastic.... ...and that was it... (...as crass as it sounds...) ...my 20th century mind understood plastic. I could immediately wrap my head around plastic. Using this understanding, but in a medium of clay with simple techniques opened a whole new world of creativity for me. Just as you can make anything out of plasitc, you can pretty much do that with clay too. 2:07:12 PM