by JAMES S. KIM
A documentary on the craft of Korean ceramics will be competing in the documentary portion of the upcoming Sundance Film Festival, reports the Korea Times.
A Thousand Year Journey, directed by Michael Oblowitz, explores the history of the craft in Korea, from the Goryeo Porcelains to the Joseon White Porcelain. It will feature five Korean master ceramicists and their processes in creating their pieces.
The documentary also explores the legacy of Korean ceramics in contemporary culture. Despite its rudimentary beginnings, there are influences of the art in the production of their transistor boards, motherboards and microchips, which are the basis for South Korea’s tech giants, Samsung and LG.
The traditional craft of Korean ceramics has experienced a recent resurgence in Icheon, Korea, but it has yet to enjoy the same widespread global popularity of Chinese and Japanese ceramics, according to Edward Ahn, president of the Cultural Foundation of America. The documentary, he hopes, will increase knowledge of the art.
Photo via Yonhap
