Koo Bohnchang: The Look of Things

Blue and White Porcelain

〈Blue and White Porcelain EWB 06 〉, 2019.

Archival pigment print
50×40 cm
Blue and White Porcelain Vase with Bird and
Cherry Blossom Design, Joseon Dynasty,
15th century, Ewha Womans University Museum

The series focuses on the pictorial elements and elegant aesthetics of blue and white porcelain. Blue and white porcelain, created by painting patterns on white porcelain with blue pigment, was introduced to Korea during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties of China and began to be produced in the mid-15th century. Chinese and Japanese blue and white porcelain are mainly filled with detailed pictures and use deep colors, but Korean(Joseon) blue and white porcelain is characterized by its clean aesthetic rather than splendor by utilizing the beauty of blank space. At the time, blue pigment was an expensive imported product, so it was a culture enjoyed by the royal family and the nobility, but it conveys the classical aesthetic of the time rather than luxury. The artist reproduces the elegant blue and white porcelain that was appreciated during the Joseon Dynasty using soft lighting and printing methods.