Ik Joong Kang

About

‘The Moon Jar’ series is representative of one of Kang’s central and enduring influences; the original moon jar, an iconic type of Korean porcelain-ware, which was made during the late period of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1911) and is so named for its milky, white glowing surface and it’s ‘full moon’ shape. In the 17th and 18th centuries moon jars were used as functional objects for displaying flowers or storing food stuffs. The jar can also be seen as being emblematic of Confucianist ideals of purity and austerity which were the principles of Korea’s educated aristocratic classes. The jars were made by using an extremely soft clay; this meant that the two halves of the pot had to be made separately; a bottom half and top half are formed and shaped, then these two hemispheres are connected by hand before being glazed and fired in a kiln. In his ‘The Moon Jar’ series, Kang further captures the spiritual essence of the Moon Jar, enhanced by the artist’s accomplished use of trompe-l'oeil, giving the illusion of three-dimensional space. Although actually flat, the curvaceous jars seem to both extend and recess into Kang’s paintings which, alongside the variety of colour, give the works a contemporary feel.