Grace Han
Grace is a ceramic artist who received her original training in Seoul, South Korea. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Dankook University, specializing in traditional Korean ceramic techniques and skills. Following the completion of her education, Grace further honed her expertise by working for several years in one of Korea's largest ceramic companies, gaining invaluable experience that extended beyond the realm of academia. She immigrated to Canada and received her Master of Fine Arts from University of Manitoba, Canada, where she now teaches as an Assistant Professor.
Artist Statement:
Grace’s work is a deep exploration of the nuances and complexity of being “between”: living as a Canadian Newcomer from Asia; having a slight physical frame but possessing an indomitable boldness; and as a ceramic artist trained in the Korean tradition who is seeking to marry it to her own originality. She calls this practice betweenness.
Betweenness shows itself in how Han makes both large-scale works and also small repetitive porcelain pieces. She creates large-scale works using the Onggi technique which requires tremendous physical work in the making process because it involves coil/slab building, paddling, and throwing on a kick wheel. This process releases the negative emotions possessed within her inner spaces and allows her to breathe in. In contrast to making large vessels using Onggi techniques, she repeatedly creates small porcelain objects to keep her hands busy. In this calm process, she can bring some organization to her ideas and thoughts that are all tangled in her head.
Interaction with her work is akin to having a deep conversation with the true her. The more interactivity and freedom for the audience to express their ideas, the more direct and meaningful the conversation. Since her work acts as an honest expression of herself she can have an authentic conversation and direct interaction with the audience. Through these conversations she begins to feel the differences between her and others melt away and she feels less like an outsider.
Instagram: @gracehanclay
