Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale 2026

Chang-Ho Kim is based in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do, where he has developed a contemporary sculptural practice rooted in the tradition of onggi. Onggi are traditional Korean earthenware vessels used to store fermented foods such as soy sauce and kimchi. Their porous surfaces allow air and moisture to circulate, which is why they are often called “breathing vessels.”

Kim learned every stage of onggi-making from his father, Kim Il-Man, a master onggi artisan and holder of Korea’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage. But he inherited more than technique. He also absorbed the gestures, breathing, and repeated rhythms of shaping clay, carrying this embodied knowledge into his own work.

The Becoming series brings together clay vessels in a wide range of forms, stacked and arranged into sculptural compositions. Take a closer look at the shapes gathered in front of you. Some are low and rounded, while others stretch upward. You’ll find openings, handles,

spouts, and soft curves, while some forms are gently indented, almost like parts of the human body. Together, these varied shapes move beyond the traditional vessel and create a sculptural landscape.

Some works take on a smaller, more intimate scale than traditional onggi, extending the tradition through Kim’s own sculptural language. Now step back and take in the group as a whole. Follow the flow and rhythm created by the different forms, and notice how the gestures and sensibilities of onggi-making, passed down through generations, continue to find new expression in contemporary sculpture.