Park Sung-wook

Established ceramicist Park Sung-wook specialises in Buncheong, a technique from the Joseon dynasty (15th-16th century) characterised by the application of white slip on dark clay. Grounded by a rich heritage of ceramic traditions, he balances this with a commitment to innovating through his work.

He is predominantly known for his monochromatic Moon Jars. The vessels are fired using a traditional, self-built, wood-fired kiln to achieve the authentic grey-green stoneware. Instead of conventional brushwork, the artist adopts a distinctive method— repeatedly immersing the large jars in the white slip or pouring the slip around it, allowing it to naturally find its own path around the vessel. The element of chance and iteration here underscore his contemplative approach to craftsmanship, where the material's inherent properties take precedence over the artist's interventions.

“To practice buncheong you really have to understand what is natural. That ‘naturalness’ has to be in your everyday life as well.” His subtle palette, crafted with many minute layers reacting with the dark clay beneath, reflects the elemental nature of the materials, showcasing intricate interactions of shades and textures. Understanding the characteristics of the clay and fire has been the pursuit of his practice for over three decades.

His contemporary approach is most evident in his two-dimensional work. Within the Pyeon / Fragment Series, he experiments with historical techniques to develop new applications. Breaking down conventional vessel forms, Park crafts ceramic paintings assembled from numerous small fragments. Each component undergoes multiple coatings of slip to achieve his intricate surfaces. His powerful wall series requires hundreds of individual stoneware pieces to complete a single artwork.

“I work with small pieces of ceramics to produce a complete work. This process entails the reinterpretation of fragments of ancient ceramics. Through the process of putting the pieces together, I become aware of the layers of time.”

Public Collection (selected)

The Horim Museum, South Korea

The Victoria and Albert Museum, UK

The Bruckner Foundation, Switzerland

The Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum, South Korea

The Yeoju World Ceramic Gallery, South Korea

The International Ceramic Exhibition Centre, China