달항아리1-세상을 품다, 72.7×60.6(20호), Mixed media, 2024

“My paintings must be seen to truly appreciate their value. I’ve spent over ten years immersed in the material to express the spirit of a potter in a two-dimensional painting. My moon jar captures the oneness of object and self, as it takes on a round form like the moon itself.” – from an interview with Kim Sun
Artist Kim Sun, known for delicately and purely reproducing white porcelain moon jars on flat canvases, has amplified the luminous light imbued with soft grayish-white and blue energy through the crackle glaze effect (subtle cracks) in her work . This is the result of her efforts to create a unique system by layering materials and revisiting both research and practice based on material science. Kim aims to express the spiritual world of her ancestors through ‘lines and form, color and light.’

달항아리-세상을 품다, 80×75(30호), Mixed media, 2024

The Texture of the Heart, Split Drawing

While her moon jars may seem similar, no two of her works share the same shape or color—each carries its own subtle nuance. For more than a decade, she has focused on translating the planar qualities of real moon jars into her art, seeking to express the abundant imagery they evoke. The title Sense of Crackle Glaze reflects the need to sense the artist’s meticulous process of connecting the jar’s ‘spirit, body, and seams’ to fully grasp the essence of her moon jars. The crack patterns also decrease in size as they move upward, mirroring this artistic journey. Through this process, her Crackle Glaze Drawing series emerges, embodying both labor and realization, confirming that for her, the moon jar is a timeless symbol of freedom.

The Harmony of Asymmetry and Symmetry, the Abundance of the Moon Jar

Kim Sun’s moon jar resembles the abundance of a generous autumn. Though it looks like a full moon, its gentle asymmetry—imperfect but balanced—reflects ‘the unique richness of individuality today’. This quality, known as asymmetry, was identified by art historian Go Yuseop (1905–1944) as a pinnacle of Korean aesthetics, where the charm lies in its lack of precision, showing Korea’s distinct sense of beauty. Kim Sun’s moon jars, which may appear slightly misshapen at first glance, convey a sense of both freedom and tranquility through their refined crackle glaze. The reason why this asymmetry still feels balanced is likely due to the inherent grace of ‘the moon jar’ itself. The subtle nuances of milky white in Kim Sun’s moon jars range from five major tones to an uncountable variety of shades, meeting us with delicate complexity. These jars, known for their elegant curves and exquisite creamy white glaze, typically measure between 45 to 55 centimeters in height, and are regarded as exceptional works of art. Kim Sun’s moon jars, etched with the sense of crackle glaze like drawings of our lives, embody the ‘refined harmony of white aesthetics.’ May you encounter the generous and precious presence of ‘Kim Sun’s moon jars’, like moonlight, within the rich sensibility of late autumn.

-Ahn Hyun-jung (Art critic/Ph.D. in Art Philosophy)

gallery NoW
16, Eonju-ro 152-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
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