Transforming Tradition, International Ceramics Workshop 2017. Icheon World Ceramic Centre, South Korea

Transforming Tradition was part of the International Ceramics Workshop, at the Gyeonngi International Ceramic Biennale, 2017. It was delivered by a group of international artists that included Sangki Kim (KR), Sunsik Kim (KR), Hyangjong Oh (KR), Bita Fayyazi (IR), Shary Boyle (CA), Stephanie Roos (DE), Ting-Ju Shao (TWN). Brownsword was invited to coordinate an experimental workshop with a group of early career artists, which disseminated concepts developed through FACTORY which explored modes of cultural exchange through two distinct ceramic traditions.

Context
Throughout history, ceramics have played an important role in the phenomenon of cultural transfer. For centuries China, Korea and Japan have influenced each other’s aesthetics, practices and technologies. Subsequent trade with the West, and the imitation and hybridization of Oriental styles in 18th century Europe led to the forging of new ceramic traditions, that were to gain historical dominance. Ironically as globalization continues to affect many of these historic sites production, recent decades have witnessed the transference of knowledge, styles and materials back to the East. The process of how indigenous knowledge travels to new environments and is innovatively applied to established materials and forms, remains the focal point for this series of experimental workshops.

Process
This workshop will artistically reactivate post-industrial discard from former factories in Stoke-on-Trent. It will explore unconventional mould forming in conjunction with traditional Korean modes of ceramic production that include Onggi coil/paddle/wheel formed construction and the vigour of Buncheong decoration. The creative research process will expose notions of permanence and transience through strategies of making and ‘unmaking’. Momentary coincidence and ‘failure’ will be re-assessed and openly encouraged as a creative tactic, to embrace open-ended enquiry rather than end-product. Traditional processes will be deconstructed to illuminate and arrest sequences of making.