I hope it will be a time to establish the position of Korean ceramics by bringing about international communication and opportunities.

I sincerely congratulate you on the hosting of the Busan Ceramic Artist Association’s international exchange exhibition ‘CONNECT & EXCHANGE – Bridge over Ceramics’ at the time when ginkgo tree leaves coloring the blue sky yellow mark the end of autumn.

Marking its 36th anniversary this year, the Busan Ceramic Artist Association is composed of about 20 professors, including Kim Hyun-sik, former president of Dongbusan University, Jang Soo-hong, former dean of Seoul National University, Lee Kyung-hee, a professor at Shilla University, Jeon Kwang-soo, a professor at Busan National University of Education, Wonju-an, and Lee Se-hoon, a professor at Dong-A University. Currently, it is Busan’s representative ceramic arts organization established with about 50 members for the development and exchange of ceramic arts in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province. It is taking the lead in promoting the artistry and excellence of our ceramic culture to the world at the center of ceramic culture around the world and opening and expanding local ceramic arts markets.

This exchange exhibition is expected to be a place to gauge the direction of world-class ceramics of the present era by displaying ceramics works from Korea, Japan, China, and the United States by region and genre. Linked to the theme of the exhibition, participants and visitors will naturally recognize the flow and artistry of the world and Korean ceramics through the exhibition space, thereby establishing a direction and strengthening the position of Korean ceramics through the process of pottery artists sharing their visions and prospects and promoting development.

Through these projects, we will provide an opportunity to publicize and promote various cultural and artistic identities in Asia and to promote the development of local culture in Busan and the international exchange of art and culture. In addition, we will hold seminars and exchange programs to build a network where ceramic artists from various regions of each country can enhance mutual understanding and share knowledge and skills for sustainable development at the same time as they gather, and through this process, we will provide visitors and Busan citizens with an opportunity to experience the world’s ceramics up close.

We hope that this exchange exhibition will be held successfully, and we believe that it will be a place for domestic and foreign artists to enhance mutual understanding, expand their areas of activities, and promote the potential of Busan ceramics. We hold an exhibition every year and applaud the members who have been engaged in various work activities and social exchanges, and we would like to express our sincere congratulations and gratitude to the management officials, including Park Sooyong, chairman of the Busan Ceramic Artist Association, for their hard work out of sight.

2024.11
G)Choi Jang-rak, Chairman of the Busan Art Association