This class discussion was based around a performance art film of Grace Han. She is a South Korean potter who now lives in Canada. In the film she dresses in traditional Korean costume and makes a large Onggi pot using traditional methods. During the process she discards items of dress one by one untill she wearing a western style vest top and leggings. On completing the pot she destroys it - "it has done its job"
We had a good deal of discussion around cultural identity and restrictions, her expressed ambivilence about moving from Korea, and about what making a piece of ceramic means to us as individuals. Is it enough to make things simply to please yourself? Is it self indulgence? If making art is therapeutic, is therapy self indulgent? I am still thinking about that one and am prepared now to discuss at length! After discussing this short film we were signposted to another film of Grace Han, this time of her giving a 'First Friday' lecture as part of Mentoring Artists for Women's Art (MAWA) programme at the University in Winnipeg Manitoba. It became clear that she has not abandoned making Onggi pots following her move but that her ability to make these very large pots was raising questions in the Canadian cultural context, and that the ability of other women to do something similar was also met with sceptisism and curiosity. She conducted some structured interviews, did some basic analysis and drew on her own experience in her investigation, resulting in the presentation 'Women Strength and Clay. What were the messages from her investigation? They were that women are as able to make a good an Onggi pot as men because success depends on training, a good eye, technique, a good understanding of the material and the right tools. In order to carry on making such pots its good to be able to focuss on them, have sufficient studio space and to maintain the strength and skill. Women, because of lack of time, competing demands of family and cultural expectations are more likely to give up this type of ceramic practice, but its not inevitable. The following film on the website was 'the Art of Aging' which as a retired Geriatrician I had to watch! I will go back to that one.
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13/10/2022 22:41:39
Work why sign parent during. Scientist bill well take civil.
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AuthorI am indulging my passion for ceramics by undertaking studies for an MA at UCLAN Archives
August 2021
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