DENVER—Sept. 12, 2023—The Denver Art Museum (DAM) will proudly present Perfectly Imperfect: Korean Buncheong Ceramics, co-organized with the National Museum of Korea (NMK), from Dec. 3, 2023, to Dec. 7, 2025. Perfectly Imperfect will be on view in the museum’s Jackson and Korean art galleries on level 5 of the Martin Building and will be included in general admission.
Barrel-Shaped Bottle with Peony Motif 모란무늬 장군 (액체를 담는 그릇) Joseon dynasty (1392–1897) Korea. 8 3/4 x 6 1/4 in. dia. Buncheong with inlaid and stamped design. National Museum of Korea: Bequest of Lee Kun-Hee, 2021. © National Museum of Korea.
Perfectly Imperfect is the first of a series of planned exhibitions and programs focused on Korean art, thanks to a grant of more than $900K from the National Museum of Korea under its Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program. Curated by Hyonjeong Kim Han, Joseph de Heer Curator of Arts of Asia, and Ji Young Park, National Museum of Korea Fellow of Korean Art at the Denver Art Museum, along with curators at NMK, Perfectly Imperfect inaugurates unique programs, exhibitions and collaborations between the NMK and the DAM over the next three years.
“The DAM is fully committed to highlighting arts, exhibitions and programs that showcase Korea’s rich arts and culture,” Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the DAM, said. “With the generous grant from the National Museum of Korea and our expert curatorial team, the museum is uniquely positioned to contribute to a new era of Korean art growth and appreciation.”
Sophisticated, playful and engaging, Buncheong ceramics became a uniquely Korean art form in the late 14th to 16th centuries. Elements of the Buncheong style have remained relevant in modern and contemporary Korean art and have influenced other artistic expressions. Its refined and rustic aesthetic has been admired by generations of potters and artists in Korea and across the world.
HUH Sangwook 허상욱, Flask-Shaped Bottle with Plantain Motif 분청은채파초문편병, 2023. Clay with white slip, painted in iron and blue, and silver lustre; 17 ⅜ x 18 ½ x 8 ⅝ in. Collection of the Artist. © Huh Sangwook. Photography © Studio Ye
Perfectly Imperfect will feature more than 40 exquisite works of Korean Buncheong ceramics from the 15th century to today, renowned for their white slip and adorned with diverse surface decorative techniques. The exhibition will also include four 20th- and 21st-century paintings as well as 16 drawings by five painters. Created and organized by the DAM in partnership with the NMK, this innovative exhibition will illustrate why this historical art form continues to resonate with Korean ceramists, as well as with other contemporary artists and viewers worldwide.
“The establishment of a new Korean art fellowship is a demonstration of the Denver Art Museum’s commitment to training young professionals to become experienced curators of Asian art in the world,” Han said. Ji Young Park, who joined the DAM in summer 2023, will oversee projects in collaboration with the NMK and conduct research on Korean art history during her three-year tenure.
Bottle with Fish Motif 물고기무늬 병, Joseon dynasty (1392–1897) Korea. 11 7/8 x 6 3/4 in. dia. Buncheong with iron-painted design. National Museum of Korea: Bequest of Lee Kun-Hee, 2021. © National Museum of Korea.
Subsequent projects will be a reinterpretation and reinforcement of the meaning of Korean art in Denver with contemporary artists, including Korean American artists Sammy Lee and Jaye Rhee in 2023-2024.
Perfectly Imperfect: Korean Buncheong Ceramics is organized by the Denver Art Museum and made possible through the generous support of the National Museum of Korea. Additional support is provided by the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS Colorado.
Planning Your Visit
The most up-to-date information on planning a visit to the Denver Art Museum can be found online under the Plan Your Visit tab. Use this page to find details on ticket pricing, public transit options, and access information. General admission for museum members is free every day. Youth aged 18 and under, regardless of residency, receive free general admission everyday thanks to the museum’s Free for Kids program. Free for Kids also underwrites free admission for school and youth group visits.
About the Denver Art Museum
The Denver Art Museum is an educational, nonprofit resource that sparks creative thinking and expression through transformative experiences with art. Its mission is to enrich lives by sparking creative thinking and expression. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. Metro residents support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a unique funding source serving hundreds of metro Denver arts, culture and scientific organizations.
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