Young Sook Park | Biography | RH Gallery Contemporary Art and Design

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Born 1947 in Kyungju, Korea.

          Growing up in Kyungju - once the capital of the Shilla kingdom and one of Korea's most fabled artistic enclaves - inspired Young Sook Park to study Korea's longstanding ceramic arts tradition. The beauty of the surrounding landscape further instilled within her a commitment to the purity of form found in traditional Korean pottery-making techniques and, through careful study and practice of these techniques, she began developing her own distinctive style. By constantly pushing the technical boundaries governing clay and glaze, Young Sook Park's versatility and precision reflect long-lost artistic traditions infused with a modern sensibility.
          Young Sook Park's commitment to recreate the "lost" methods and styles of Korea's fabled Chosun Dynasty led to the establishment of Park Young Sook Ceramic Studio in 1979. Since 1979, Park has been constantly experimenting with materials, forms, scale, and firing techniques in order to forge a new tradition within the korean ceramic arts.
          From the beginning of her career, she has devoted herself to perfecting her craft by creating shapes and glazes that both aesthetically and structurally surpass existing processes. Over 20 years of research has gone into creating and developing the glazes and clay used in her works, and the clays produced by the artist take from 6 to 10 years to mature. Reduction firing at 1350 degrees produces a perfect fusion of clay and glaze to assure durability, and Park's bold decision to work at high temperatures (over 1300 C) only serves to increase the chances for error.
          Now, after twenty years of dedication and practice, the artist has finally mastered the fabled "Moon Jar" and has initiated a new chapter in the history of this once-lost art form. Renowned for the exquisite harmony shared between mouth, body, and base, the "Moon Jar" produced during the Chosun Dynasty represents the epitome of perfection for many ceramic artists. Balancing precariously on a rather high base, and featuring an upper section fuller than the lower section, both sections must be put together seamlessly and stress points must hold together to prevent collapse during firing.
          Eager to share her Asian culture with new audiences Young Sook Park's newest goal is to build a bridge between between East and West through ceramic works of art which blend tradition with innovation and encourage contemplation and joy.