Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale 2026

As suggested by its title—which layers the phonetic reading bon with the English word “Born”, the Chinese character 本 (bon, meaning “origin” or “root”), and Korea’s international calling code, 82—Choi Yijae’s work stems from an engagement with Korean identity. Examining formal principles of form of Three Kingdoms-period earthenware, the artist reflects its simple silhouettes, volume, form, and proportion. In addition, she personally blends raw clay collected from different regions of the country, expressing the inherent coloration and materiality of the clay to capture the distinctive character of earthenware. While each work takes on a distinct character through its specific clay mixture and subtle variations in form and proportion, together they harmonize into a unified landscape. This calls to mind the land upon which we stand and the layers of time accumulated beneath it. Through this process, the artist traces her roots and identity, translating those enduring traces into a contemporary formal language.