KOO BOHNCHANG ‘VESSELS’
Koo Bohnchang’s reunion of Korean ‘dal-hang-a-ri’ or ‘moon jars’ is tender photographic portraiture. Long lost relatives, these unadorned treasures are reunited in Bohchang’s ‘Vessels’ series of photographs. Rare white porcelain all fired from only a couple of kilns from the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) they are reunited again after centuries of being dispersed to collectors in far reaches of the globe.
Renowned for their white milky glaze that earned them the name ‘moon jars’ these curvaceous beauties, so simple in form, are symbols of purity. Through Bohnchang’s soft monochromatic gaze you sense the historical importance of an object. ‘Vessels’ are a heartfelt reminder that what we create is a representation of the era, an immediate connection, not only to the aesthetic nature of that time but most importantly to the state of mind.
Affectionate imagery conveys the preference for restraint typical of the Confucianism period, white porcelain vessels so serenely perfect with their slight imperfections. Soulfully this is Bohnchang’s family tree that he shares with us.
Credits: Koo Bohnchang
