Shin Sang-ho

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Shin Sang-ho
Born1947
NationalitySouth Korean
SpouseHan Yun-sook
Korean name
Hangul
신상호
Revised RomanizationSin Sangho
McCune–ReischauerSin Sangho
Websitehttp://www.sanghoshin.kr/index.php

Shin Sang-Ho (Korean신상호; Hanja申相浩; born 1947) is a Korean ceramicist. His works can be found in museums around the world especially the Shin Sang-ho Art Museum. He is the former Dean, College of Fine Arts at Hongik University in Seoul,[1] and former Director of the Clayarch Gimhae Museum.

Career[edit]

Shin Sang-ho was born in an area historically known as Yangju, and now known as Banghak-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. He became interested in ceramics when he was attending classes at Hongik University's Department of Crafts. Rather than going home during a holiday, he went to a pottery in Icheon.

At that time, Icheon had no electricity or natural gas. A manually fed wood-fired kiln was the only way to fire ceramics. Further, without any modern equipment to throw clay or prepare it, Shin's initial foundation in ceramics used traditional, non-industrial techniques.[2]

Dream Series, Buncheong Ware 1991

Starting in 1965 he began submitting his works to both the Korean Commerce and Industry Art Exhibition and Korean Industrial Artists Association Exhibition. He was awarded a bronze medal in 1968.

1973 solo exhibitions in Japan including Tokyo, Osaka, Sendai, Yamagata, and Mitsukoshi Department Store where he received an award from the Culture and Information Commissioner.[citation needed]

In 1976 Shin settled near the city of Yangju. He continues to live there, and has built a home, guest house, studio and museum.[3]

In 1978 he received the Chairman's award[clarification needed] at Korea's National Folk Art Competition.[citation needed]

In 1979 Shin was part of a government team that traveled internationally to learn about ceramic production and bring the technology back to South Korea.[4]

During the 1980s he became a lecturer in the Applied Art Department of Sungshin Women's University and began working as a professor of Ceramic Art at the College of Fine Arts, Hongik University.[5] This position eventually led to him becoming Dean of the College of Fine Arts.[6]

In 1981, South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan visited the US to meet the U president Ronald Reagan for a summit meeting.[7] He brought a moon jar vase made by Shin who was described as being "a leading Korean ceramist".[4][8]

Also in 1981, South Korea was trying to counter the influence North Korea established during the 1970s in Africa.[9] South Korea's ambassador to Zaire, Lee Jong-eop, noticed that under the presidency of Mobutu Sese Seko, art and culture was given significant attention as a part of Zairianisation.[10] Lee came up with the idea of sending an artist from South Korea to meet Mobutu; Shin Sang-ho was selected and subsequently Mobuto with a 60 cm tall, celadon, openwork vase as a gift.[4]

A vase by Shin was South Korea's official gift to Prince Charles and Lady Dinner Spencer at their wedding in 1982. One news report described the vase as among the top five gifts the couple had received.[4]

Display of Dream Series 1991

In 1986 then Korean President Chun Doo-hwan and his wife presented Queen Elizabeth II two of Shin's vases.

The "Dream" series (1995) was one of his first exhibits to gain international recognition.[11] This series features traditional Asian vessel shapes and buncheong glazes decorated with abstract patterns reminiscent of Asian calligraphy or ink wash paintings.

In 2002, “The Dream of Africa” series, that depicts animals using bold colors and patterns, was inspired by his trips to Africa and passion for African indigenous art.[12]

In the 1990s Shin began developing "fired painting" tiles used as a means to apply ceramic arts to commercial architecture. In 2000, a particularly large example was installed within the overhead covered walkway connecting the Seoul JW Marriott Hotel.[5]

In 2022 the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art presented an exhibition titled "Prayer for Life: Special Exhibition of Korean Polychrome Painting" that featured Shin's "Totem" series.[13]

In 2023, Shin's "Tree of Life" series and "Book of Revelation" series, that continue his interest in two dimensional ceramics were scheduled for their first public display in London.[12]

Clayarch Gimhae Museum[edit]

Clayarch Gimhae Museum with 5,000 fired painting tiles by Shin Sang-ho on exterior walls

The name of the Clayarch Gimhae Museum (클레이아크김해미술관) comes from the two words clay and architecture.[14] It opened on March 24, 2006 with Shin Sang-ho serving as Artistic Director.[15][16] I The exterior of the building is covered in approximately 5,000 fired painting tiles by Shin Sang-ho. Each tile is 48 cm square and were handcrafted at Bugok pottery.[17] The tiles are not permanently fixed to the building. Instead, they are supported on an aluminium frame and can be rearranged to change the appearance of the building.[17]

In 2020, the museum's design was awarded with a gold medal in Asia's largest design contest.[18]

Style[edit]

Joseon Period buncheong bowl similar to reproductions by Shin for the Japanese market.

Shin Sang-ho's style has evolved over his long career. This, may in part be owing to his philosophy of not recreating anything he has already made.[19] When he was working in Icheon, his earliest works were similar to traditional inlayed celadon Goryeo ware called sanggam. As his skill level increased, he began creating more intricate celadon openwork and at least a few double-openwork pieces.

Shin began producing a large amount of buncheong wares similar to wares produced in the Joeson Period. These works are characterized by simple shapes and earthy colors.[20] This style shift was likely in response to Japanese demand for traditional Japanese tea ware they call mishima.

Around this period he also began producing a style of pottery that was mostly similar to Joeson white porcelain. The moon jar vase presented to US president Ronald Reagan in 1981 was made in this style. This may not have been his first works in pure white porcelain. His more difficult singe and double-openwork pieces featured sanggam style inlays appear to have been made after returning to South Korea and fired in the gas kiln he brought back from Japan.[21][22]

Over his career, Shin has made several styles of moon jars: blue and white moon jars; modern moon jars; plain celadon moon jars; sanggam moon jars; and double-openwork celadon moon jars.[23] One critic wrote he 'epitomized the uniquely Korean aesthetic sensibilities, with free-flowing and generous forms in order to instill a contemporary touch.'[24] Shin's departure from Korean sensibilities to becoming a ‘problematic figure’ in the Korean ceramics world has been traced to 1984. That was the year he met 'modern' ceramists when he began teaching at the University of Connecticut.[4]

In Tatsuo Matsuyama's book, Portrait of a Modern Ceramic Artist, Shin was listed as one of the 66 most influential ceramists who shaped modern ceramics.[25] He has also been deemed a heretic,[3] for not keeping with what some critics considered to be proper Korean ceramics.

Personal life[edit]

Shin Sang-ho is married to Han Yun-sook who made her own line of pottery from porcelain.[19] The couple raised two daughters, both of whom continue the family association with art.[16] Shin an avid collector. A large exhibition in London of African art was particularly influential. He was so enchanted by the original vitality of the works that he almost lived in the exhibition hall. Since then, he has frequently traveled to Africa. His home is filled with hundreds of artifacts collected from Africa.[16] In 2022 Shin reported he was in talks with Yangju City to donate his extensive collection of personal art as well as collected art.[4]

Shin is the chairman of Camp Red Cloud Design Cluster Creation Working Group. The group is working to utilize the property and buildings that were transferred from the United States Forces Korea to the government of South Korea. Shin's goal is to convert the property into a multi-use cultural space for galleries, artist residences, a school for design and art, and area to host art fairs.[12][26]  

Signature[edit]

When working in celadon, Shin typically signed his works by first engraving his stylized signature in thin clear lines and curves. The engraved area was then filled in with a darker clay before firing. When working in buncheong, Shin typically signed his works with a wider deep engraving that was left unfilled. Many buncheong works are signed near the foot instead of the bottom.

Selected collections[edit]

Shin's work is in the permanent collections of:

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Collections Online | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  2. ^ Ha, Joo-hee (2022-11-29). "Shin Sang-ho, a master representing Korean ceramics "I lived like a crazy person, loving only pottery."한국 도예를 대표하는 거장 신상호". monthly.chosun.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  3. ^ a b Tetto, Mark. "[마크테토의 아트스페이스] 젊은 거장, 도예가 신상호 Young master, ceramic artist Shin Sang-ho". m.post.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Ha, Joo-hee (2022-11-29). "Shin Sang-ho, a master representing Korean ceramics "I lived like a crazy person, loving only pottery."한국 도예를 대표하는 거장 신상호". monthly.chosun.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  5. ^ a b 홈페이지, 신상호 공식. "신상호 스튜디오 About Shin Sang-ho". sanghoshin.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  6. ^ "Dr. Shin Sang-Ho (b. 1947) - Vase". www.rct.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  7. ^ "Seeing human rights in the "proper manner": The Reagan-Chun Summit of February 1981". nsarchive2.gwu.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  8. ^ "Gifts to the President" (PDF). Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
  9. ^ Amstrong, Charles. "Juche and North Korea's Global Aspirations" (PDF). Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
  10. ^ Article, Rebecca Anne Proctor ShareShare This (2022-09-01). "Congo Is in a 'Cultural Crisis.' Here's How Artists, Dealers, and Collectors in the Capital of Kinshasa Are Using Art to Solve the Problem". Artnet News. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  11. ^ "Ceramics". prezi.com. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  12. ^ a b c "[ZOOM KOREA] Shin Sang-ho continues to mold a new path for Korean ceramics". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  13. ^ "Prayer for Life: Special Exhibition of Korean Polychrome Painting". The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
  14. ^ "Clayarch Gimhae Museum | Creative City, Gimhae". www.gimhae.go.kr. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  15. ^ "Network | 경기도자미술관". www.gmocca.org (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  16. ^ a b c "흙과 색의 제국 '신상호의 세계'". 행복이 가득한 집 (in Korean). 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  17. ^ a b 기자 Kim, 김중걸 Joong-geol (2006-01-03). "[김해]클레이아크 김해미술관 그 자태를 드러내다 Clayarch Gimhae Museum reveals itself". 경남도민일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  18. ^ dosol@busan.com, 정달식 선임기자. "클레이아크김해미술관, 아시아 최대 디자인 공모전 금상 받았다 Clayarch Gimhae Museum received a gold medal in Asia's largest design contest". 부산일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  19. ^ a b Lee, Ji-Hyeon (2010-12-20). "Empire of Earth and Color 'Shin Sang-ho's World '흙과 색의 제국 '신상호의 세계'". 행복이 가득한 집 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  20. ^ "Exhibitions". han-collection. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  21. ^ "Dr. Shin Sang-Ho (b. 1947) - Vase". www.rct.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  22. ^ "Dr. Shin Sang-Ho (b. 1947) - Vase". www.rct.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  23. ^ "인테리어소품,화병,다완. : 네이버 블로그". blog.naver.com. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  24. ^ Chang, Kihun. "Constancy and Change in Korean Traditional Craft 2017" (PDF). Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum.
  25. ^ "[商品詳細 現代陶芸家の肖像 (松山龍雄)]阿部出版オンラインショップ". www.abepublishing.co.jp. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  26. ^ (의정부)임봉재 (2023-08-14). "[경기 의정부소식] 의정부시, 미래전략포럼 개최…문화정책 비전을 설계하다". 아주경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  27. ^ Katz, Ellen (2014-07-31). "file under fiber: Everson Museum of Art Syracuse New York". file under fiber. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  28. ^ "LongHouse Reserve". www.lihistoricartistssites.org. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
  29. ^ "Korean Ceramic Culture: Legacy of Earth and Fire | Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art". jsma.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-11.

External links[edit]