A look at stories of ceramics today

It is said that a classic never gets old, and the same applies to ceramics made by artists paying meticulous attention to detail.

"Unfolding the Dynamics of Modern Ceramics in Korea," an exhibition organized by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, explores ceramic artists' contemporary reinterpretations of ceramics from the past.

The prologue section, titled "The Beginnings of Modernity," showcases traditional ceramic works made between 1945, the end of Japanese colonial rule in Korea, and 1953, the end of the three-year Korean War.

The roots of this traditional craft are highlighted by works such as a 1950s celadon vase with an incised peony design, from the Korean Research Center of Ceramic Arts Ware collection, and a white porcelain ashtray painted with blue underglaze, owned by the Korean Art Society.

The first section, "Pursuit of Identity," reveals how Korean ceramics began to embrace modernity in the 1960s and 1970s, especially after the first five-year economic development plan was implemented in 1962.

This was a period when modern ceramics reflected the understanding and incorporation of traditional aesthetics. Ceramic artists also found inspiration in blending traditional styles with modern techniques or ideas, leading to innovative yet respectful interpretations of classic ceramics.

Korean ceramics underwent another transition when the country hosted the 1988 Seoul Olympics. During this period, the government began implementing policies that encouraged artists to adopt international styles while also promoting Korean culture to the world at the Summer Olympics.

Artist Kim Suk-whan's "Work," made from mixed clay, laid the groundwork for ceramic sculpture. The section also features large-scale installations created by artists such as Shin Sang-ho and Yuk Sun-koo, which were influenced by global art styles and changing times.

The final section, titled "Shifting Tradition," begins with the period when Korean ceramics came into the limelight through the Cheongju Craft Biennale, established in 1999, and the Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale -- now Gyeonggi Ceramic -- which launched in 2001.

The period marked a seismic shift as modern ceramics moved from modernist values and aesthetic systems to pluralization and hybridity, focusing more on exploring the significance of ceramics in people's lives, society and culture. Ceramics came to reflect cultural and societal perspectives rather than serving a utilitarian purpose. Artworks by Sim Da-eun and Kim Jin, for example, revolve around the environment and communal awareness.

The exhibition runs until May 6 at MMCA Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. It is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Mondays. Admission costs 2,000 won ($1.39).