Ceramic making is an age-old technique for creating both functional and decorative items from earth and has been practiced in many corners of the globe for many centuries. Korea has a rich culture of ceramic making, with its most celebrated forms of pottery emerging in the Joseon dynasty period, which dates back to the 15th century. 분청 (Buncheong) is one of the most beautiful ceramic styles that comes from this time, where hand-craft, wood-fired ovens and various forms of earth are drawn upon by artisans to produce table ware that is rich in character and lovely to look at.
Sung Wook Park has been practicing 분청 (buncheong) for decades in Korea, though he’s still refining his technique in forming colour variations and textures in the artful pieces he forms at his studio, Musso. Similarly passionate about the art of hand-formed ceramics is Xavier Mañosa, who alongside his parents runs Apparatu - a brand he founded in 2009 in Barcelona. The firm is respected globally for the surprising characteristics of its ceramic forms, winning the company a loyal audience in collectable design circles. Fashion names such as Isabel Marant and Hermès have flocked to Mañosa’s work for use in visual merchandising projects, while Apparatu also supplies ceramics to design brands such as Spanish lighting specialists Marset.
While the pair live and practice many, many miles away from each other they share a strong understanding of the value of ceramic craft, its natural potency and the importance of the maker’s hand in the process behind it. With this in mind they sat down to discuss 분청 (buncheong) and why artisanal practices remain crucial in the progression of craft.
SUNG WOOK PARK
www.instagram.com/musso_youXAVIER MAÑOSA
www.apparatu.com
SUNG WOOK PARK
www.instagram.com/musso_youXAVIER MAÑOSA
www.apparatu.com
© Images provided by
– Sung Wook Park