It is with great pleasure that the National Museum of Korea joins the Denver Art Museum in hosting the special exhibition Perfectly Imperfect: Korean Buncheong Ceramics in 2023.
The Denver Art Museum is a major institution for the western-central region of the United States and is home to a dedicated Korean art gallery. It was selected for the National Museum of Korea Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program in 2022, making the relationship between our two institutions all the more special. This exhibition exploring the beauty and historical significance of Korean ceramics through the buncheong ware of the Joseon dynasty is the first collaborative project undertaken through the program. The National Museum of Korea has selected forty-five prime examples of buncheong ware from its collection that amply demonstrate the free-spiritedness and witty aesthetic for which the style is known.
Buncheong ware was first produced more than six centuries ago, but it displays a remarkably modern aesthetic. The use of stamps to create uniform patterns is reminiscent of today’s industrial ceramic production of ready-made products. Meanwhile the bold coating of the surface with white slip in a single stroke of a rough brush or the playful dipping of vessels in white slip recall performance art. Visitors will encounter ceramics that feel much more like abstract modern works than the preceding Goryeo celadon or subsequent white porcelain. It is hoped that the beauty of buncheong ware, which continues to be beloved in the present day, will be conveyed to the American public.
Finally, I would like to express my thanks to the many people who have collaborated with us on this exhibition. I am especially grateful to Director Christoph Heinrich of the Denver Art Museum for his generous support in realizing this special exhibition. I would also like to extend my deep appreciation to the staff at the Denver Art Museum, including Hyonjeong Kim Han, the head of the arts of Asia department, and NMK Fellow of Korean Art Ji Young Park for the passion and dedication they demonstrated throughout the entire process from the planning to the inauguration of the exhibition.
It is hoped that the program for supporting Korean galleries overseas introduced through this special exhibition will bear fruit and serve as a springboard for promoting Korean culture in the United States.
Yoon Sung Yong
Director General
National Museum of
Korea