Ceramic Artist, Zhu Le Geng

Zhu Le Geng was born in Jingdezhen, the center of ceramic art in the world among the potter family. He spent his sensitive teens in the chaos of the Cultural Revolution watching that his father, famous potter, went through a cruel suffering and finally passed away like other artists in China at that time. In spite of the painful observation, the inherent enthusiasm toward ceramics would force him to step into the clay work and to study it in Beijing Craft College. This experience has built him as a great ceramic artist today. He has won the numerous awards from the prestigious ceramic competitions in the world. This recognition would encourage him to generate a better work as well. He is such as an artist who develops handicraft Chinese ceramics to a part of fine art. I believe that he began a new trend of ceramics in China.

As an artist, Zhu Le Geng is pretty much productive about not only quality but also quantity like Michelangelo was. His work reflects a sense of metaphysical expression in Chinese ink paintings and decorative glazed ceramics so that we are aware of that his work is based ono the traditional Chinese art. Whoever appreciates his ceramics, they would feel like ‘This is so China!’ In the meantime, his work is truly regarded as contemporary art, we often confront many artists who simply follow the conventional way of believe that western pottery Is real modern ceramic art even though European and American have overlooked their tradition to develop contemporary ceramics. However Zhu Le Geng is enable to create the most contemporary art yet very traditional. We could observe that he keeps creating very unique, prolific and different work.

Although he has built up his career concretely, he becomes to try the new direction this time. There are so many architectures harmonized with oil paintings and sculptures, which are regarded as mainstream of western art. However the core of oriental art, ink paintings and ceramics have been far away from living life so far. Zhe Le Geng decides to try something new. Meanwhile Gaudi once used ceramic tiles as a part of architecture; we are not used to apply ceramics into the building in the East. We only have an experience to adapt the decorative pattern of Danchung into the architecture. In this work, Zhu Le Geng achieves a certain level in the architectural art. He accepts ceramics itself to make a harmony with the interior of the building.

His works, ‘The light for life’ is a huge piece, 8m high and 17m wide. It reveals the blowing out image of life and leads the viewer to be moved by the mysterious atmosphere as well. He understands what is the most effective he could do with clay and fully fills up the wall with such a beautiful art work. What is the most impressive thing is that he completed a great music hall using ceramics. Although ceramics is theoretically known as an ideal material for the acoustic multi-reflection, nobody has been able to try to finish a music hall with ceramic tiles because of the difficulties on construction. All of techniques are applied and finally he creates the beautiful sound from the material. The character of clay is intimate, quiet and comfortable. He successfully makes not only the peaceful aura from a stone building or a brick church in the West but also the fabulous echo effect form the ceramic wall. I believe that it is one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of ceramic art. It has been completed in the scale of 54 tons like a ceramic palace. He tries to show whole beauty of ceramics such as the aesthetics of pictorial art, crafts and structure and even a use. This project contains these all.

I expect that countless building are going to be constructed in the East and also hope that many ceramic artists will be take part in the environmental art as Zhe Le Geng did for this project. I truly appreciate that he stepped forward to make ceramics helped us like Sancho in Don Quixote for this show. Thanks to Mr. Chun Kyou Oh who has spent his all energy for this project, although most architects believe that this is almost impossible because nobody has tried before. I’d appreciate to Mr. Suk Phil Chun and director, Kyung Ja Won, they support this work as if family does. There is no doubt that this project proves that ceramics could be utilized as a material for the acoustic reflection, yet visually beautiful. We would pay respects to Mr. Zhu Le Geng and his masterpiece celebrating the opening of the Milal Art Museum from the bottom of heart.

Reverend Jung Kil Hong / Southern Seoul Mercy Church