7th Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale - Buzz Korea

What is made of earth, shaped by water, and hardened in fire? The answer of course is ceramics.
At the 7th Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale, which runs from September 28 until November 17, 2013 at Icheon Cerapia, Gwangju Gonjiam Ceramic Park, and Yeoju Dojasesang, you can experience some of the finest ceramic artwork at one of the leading international festivals of its kind.

Under the theme “With Me, With You, With Us,” the Biennale will illustrate how art and culture have developed through exchange and collaboration among local communities during the development of modern civilization. The event will also emphasize exchange and collaboration rather than competition between people, between societies, and between people and societies. The theme aims to appeal to inhabitants of the contemporary world of unbridled materialism and flood of digital media.

With the goal of dissolving invisible boundaries and healing social alienation through ceramics, the festival will feature ‘Time of Reflection’ (Healing Wounds), ‘Time of Experience’ and ‘Time of Sharing.’

                                    
Already in its 7th year, the Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale is has gained an international reputation for its consistently new and interesting exhibits. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of this year’s Biennale.
Special Exhibitions
1. GICB International Prize 2013
Under the theme “Community – With Me, With You, With Us,” the exhibition features 27 artists (ceramists, sculptors, painters, installation artists, etc.) from 18 countries, who are showcasing 51 new artworks at the festival. The theme’s meaning is developed and examined by the participation of artists from diverse locations, cultures and races. Visitors can also gain an insight to the current state of the ceramics world and learn about trends in modern ceramics.

2. Hot Rookies
Under the theme “Paradoxical Aesthetics,” this special exhibition will feature 87 works of art by 20 artists from 8 countries — Korea, China, Turkey, United States, Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland. The exhibition aims to showcase up-and-coming artists and give them an opportunity to grow as international artists. The featured artists were selected through an on-line open entry process.

3. ‘Bounce! Bounce! Beating Heart!’ – The National Ceramic Competition for the Disabled
This exhibition features 71 exhibits by disabled ceramics artists, which reflect their experiences and emotions. The exhibition is a meaningful space that helps visitors to understand and communicate with the artists.

Workshop Programs1. International Ceramic Workshop
This international education program aims to bridge the gap between traditional and modern, East and West, and different generations, regions and genres. It consists of three sessions:
Session 1 is a meeting of mentors and mentees. On October 2–21, ceramic masters from around the world will attend the session as mentors to give talks on their art and future endeavors to aspiring artists from Korea and abroad. Korean traditional ceramic masters will then mentor overseas artists in the traditional beauty of Korean ceramics October 28 to November 10.
Session 2 features special talks and demonstrations.
Session 3 is a workshop event that includes a dinner party, a tea ceremony, an artist food event, the academy of Buddhist temple cuisine, and various other colorful events.
2. Clay Workshop – “Healing Camp’”
This workshop analyzes participants’ traumas and helps to resolve them through the hands-on experience of working with clay ceramics.
Whether you need healing or not, the 7th Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale is festival well worth experiencing. So why not consider enjoying some ceramic art when you come to Korea?