23 October 2021 till 23 January 2022

Lines of Perfection

Lines of Perfection


A person’s 60th birthday is a special occasion in Korea because it is believed that this is the point when one life cycle has been completed and a new one is about to begin. In this sense, 2021 is a particularly special year, as Korea and the Netherlands are celebrating sixty years of diplomatic ties. Friendly relations between nations begin with mutual understanding and knowledge of each other’s culture. This exhibition showcases the beauty of Korean art both old and new and brings together contemporary Korean art and Korean ceramics from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

The work of Korean ceramicists is unique among Asian ceramic art. Their objects are renowned for their perfect, elegant forms, with famous examples including the ovoid vase and the moon jar. The ceramics made during the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), in particular, are generally considered to be some of the finest in the history of Korean ceramics, thanks in part to the use of celadon glaze (a green glaze that resembles jade) and the invention of the sanggam technique in the early 12th century, whereby the clay is inlaid with slip.

Under the influence of philosophy, particularly the ideas of Confucius, a preference for simpler forms, monochrome glaze and minimal decoration emerged during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). One fine example is Korean white porcelain, with its pure, elegant forms devoid of overt adornment

The contemporary pieces shown in this exhibition with the ceramics display a preference for clean contours and simple but visually powerful abstract images. The combination of colour, line and material gives the work a very meditative or contemplative feel.

This presentation has been organised in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Netherlands.

We would like to thank the Van Kinderen Collection for enabling us to show examples of domestic Korean ceramics, with fine examples from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasty.

To mark the anniversary of diplomatic relations, Keramiekmuseum Princessehof in Leeuwarden presents the exhibition Korea – Gateway to a Rich Past (until 21 August 2022).