Adam buick miniature moon jars

Adam Buick

Miniature Moon Jars

Artist Statement Adam Buick studied Archaeology and Anthropology at Lampeter University before enrolling in Art School in 2003 and undertaking a Ceramics and Design course in 2004. His studio is situated at Llanferran on the north coast of the St.Davids peninsula, Wales. “My work uses a single pure jar form as a canvas to map my observations from an ongoing study of my surroundings. I incorporate stone and locally dug clay into my work to create a narrative, one that conveys a unique sense of place. The unpredictable nature of each jar comes from the inclusions and their metamorphosis during firing. This individuality and tension between materials speaks of the human condition and how the landscape shapes us as individuals.

Landscapes have inspired artists for generations but for me a landscape has to be felt. Paths are a motif I use to represent my actual and metaphoric journeys through a place. To understand a landscape is to move through it, to give it context. Paths are like common routes of experience, guiding us through the landscape. They are connections through time, to others and to the land. Ultimately my work is about being present within a landscape.�

Adam Buick

History of Moon Jars “Moon Jars (dal hang-ari) are a Korean form from the Choson dynasty (1392-1910) originally made from plain white porcelain. At the time they represented the epitome of the austere Confucian virtues of purity, honesty and modesty. Because of their form they were also thought to represent the embracing, gentle qualities of woman and fertility. Park Youngsook, the only modern exponent of Korean Moon Jars, points out the difficult and exact skills needed in throwing the two halves that make up the completed Jar. Furthermore a careful firing schedule is needed at high temperatures to fuse them successfully. This simple form revered by the Korean people for hundreds of years still resonates today, admired by all who see them.

Housed in the British Museum is a Moon Jar that Bernard Leach brought back from Seoul, one of only ten originals in existence. Leach and his contemporaries in Japan admired it for its lack of self-consciousness, and the beauty of its slight imperfections. I was also struck by these qualities, its serenity and simplicity. I was so inspired by that Moon Jar that for the past four years I have made nothing else, not to replicate it exactly but more to capture the ephemeral qualities that the form resonated. Keeping the Confucian virtues in mind I now use this pure form as the composition for my work.�

Adam Buick

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Adam Buick Miniature Moon Jars 8 January - 1 February 2014 Adam Buick has exhibited internationally since completing a two year Crafts Council of Ireland Ceramics Design and Skills Course in 2006.

His work has been featured in Ceramic Review, the Financial Times and Ceramic Art and Perception.

Public Collections: Oriental Museum, Durham National Museum Cardiff All of the Moon Jars are approximately 9cm high and are made from a variety of clays as well as landscape inclusions. ÂŁ75 each.

To purchase a Moon Jar from the catalogue please contact The Gallery with the catalogue number of the item that you would like.

Back cover: Moon Jar 16