pure clay + contemporary clay at RH gallery

pure clay: young sook park and lee ufan
+ contemporary clay group exhibition
RH gallery, new york, USA
june 29th to august 20th, 2011



julia chiang: keep it together #10 (42), 2011
unglazed ceramic
5'8" chain
all images courtesy of RH gallery


the 'pure clay' and 'contemporary clay' exhibitions at new york's RH gallery showcase a breadth of ceramic practices,
featuring the collaborative works of south korea -born, new york -based potter young sook park and korea-born
japanese artist lee ufan, alongside a group show of pieces by ai wei wei, sterline ruby, arlene shechet, jeff koons,
naoki koide, and a selection of young contemporary artists.

the 'pure clay' collaboration sees young sook park's ceramic work, considered a modern interpretation of the precise traditions
of the chosun dynasty, adorned with the minimalistic brushwork of lee ufan, one of the leaders of the 1960s 'school of things',
focused on the purity of raw physical materials. their collaboration brought forth terracotta reliefs and large painted pieces,
alongside a series of platters, teacups, and other dinnerware.



young sook park and lee ufan: untitled (with lee ufan), 2001/2009
white porcelain with painted apples
14.25 (diameter) x 1.25"


in an adjacent room, 'contemporary clay' brings together new and recent works from a range of contemporary artists.
ai wei wei's 'kui hua zi (sunflower seeds)' installation at the tate modern, which saw 1000 porcelain sunflower seeds
formed and painted by hand, is here re-presented as a selection of seeds in a glass jar. a chain of handcrafted ceramic links
by new york -based sculptor julia chiang, one of several such chains the artists has created for recent installations,
attends to the divide between perfection and the imperfect but human qualities of the handmade.



john o'reilly: untitled, 2011
ceramic
14 x 14.5 x 7" (35.6 x 36.8 x 17.8cm)



ai wei wei: kui hua zi (sunflower seeds), 2009
1000 sunflower seeds in porcelain, sculpted and handpainted, in a glass jar
6.4 x 4.4 x 4.4" (16.2 x 11.1 x 11.1cm)



detail view of the porcelain sunflower seeds


RH gallery elaborates:

'the medium of clay [...] has a rich history which carries a certain aura. clay's malleability and sensitivity to touch
further defines its identity: each artist uses clay in a uniquely expressive way, yet the medium connects them.
showing these objects together urges the viewer to investigate this historical medium in a new light,
offering new perspectives and understandings of the artworks.'



julia chiang at work on 'keep it together'
image © lele savari



aerial view as chiang shapes the clay chain links



chains (left) and individual links (right) in chiang's studio



detail view of 'keep it together #10'