Boo Won Park’s contemporary reproductions of moon jars simultaneously carry on and advance the Korean royal ceramic tradition. Traditional moon jars originated in the court of King Chongjo at the end of the 18th century. The white porcelain and nsimple curves embodied the principles of frugality and purity - neo-Confucian ideals of the ruling dynasty.

Born in the countryside of Kimje in 1938, Park learned the royal ceramic tradition under distinguished master ceramist Ji Soontag. In the 1970s, Park began to add expressive hues and natural textures to the traditional moon jar through a firing process that permits wind, temperature, and humidity to determine the shape and color of a piece. In this way, Park believes the clay “body” of the jar is animated by the “spirit” of the fire - with the final result solely in the hands of God.

Park has been named the first “Master Potter of Royal Ceramics” by the government of Kwangju, Kyonggi - the center for court pottery in the Choson era. His works are part of the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution, The National Folk Museum of Korea, the Incheon World Ceramic Center, the Korea Ceramic Foundation, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

SELECTED EXHIBITION

2015
Exhibition of Royal Pottery Master, Suseong Artpia Gallery, Daegu, South Korea

2014
The Cult of Art: White Porcelain, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul, South Korea
Clay, Fire, and Life: 50th Anniversary of Jeonju, Jeonju University, Jeonju, South Korea

2013
Jewels Born in the Fire, Milal Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea

2012
Exchange Exhibition: Ceramic Art of China and Korea, Longquan Celadon Museum, Longquan, China

2012
Park Boo Woon Moon Jars: 50 Years, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul, South Korea

2010
1000 Years of Korean Ceramics, Embassy of Korea in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

2009
Artist and Moon Jar, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul, South Korea

2004
Korean Tea Culture and Teapots, Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, South Korea

2001
Korean Traditional Ceramic Exhibition

2000
100 Artists, Classic Ceramic Korean Teapots, The National Folk Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea

1997
Smithsonian Exhibition, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
Seoul International Ceramic Biennale, Seoul, South Korea

1991
Korea and Japan Cultural Exchange Exhibition, Kobe City Museum, Kobe, Japan

COLLECTIONS

Smithsonian Institute, The National Folk Museum of Korea, Icheon World Ceramic Center, Korea Ceramic Foundation, Victoria and Albert Museum, and numerous public and private collections.