Sun KIM

Sun Kim is a Korean artist who has devoted a decade to the subject of the Moon Jar (달항아리/dal-hang-ari), a more or less spherical white porcelain jar that was an emblematic symbol of the 17th and 18th centuries of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). Today, the Moon Jar is a symbol of the austere virtues of neo-Confucianism imposed by the Joseon dynasty to establish its legitimacy over the previous Buddhist Goryeo dynasty, famous for its green or grey-blue celadons. White porcelain, inspired by the Ming, developed a distinct Korean shape, and style. There are only 30 Moon Jars from the Joseon dynasty in the

world.

The Moon Jar is the physical embodiment of Joseon ideals: propriety, rites, cleanliness, restraint, control of desires and emotions, order, simplicity, modesty, benevolence and acceptance of one's position in life, a form of fulfilment and harmony with nature.

SUN KIM appropriates this leitmotif of Korean culture to produce a series of ‘Moon Jar Embracing the World’ paintings that capture the diaphanous twitch of the original porcelain. She manages to project this effect by including a paint with a variable dilution, and a different drying time to reproduce these cracks.

Sun KIM's work is very popular in Korea, and while many artists turn to the Moon Jar subject, she is the only one to be able to apply this rendering.