To reflect on the true meaning of relaxation through appreciation of art, this exhibition presents 430 pieces of 67 works from the collection of the Icheon World Ceramic Center (KOCEF) and works by artists engaged in contemporary ceramics, crafts, and media art.

The special exhibition The Promenade: Healing in Nature II at the Icheon World Ceramic Center is intended to give visitors a respite from their overbusy daily lives and a sense of the season. The exhibition relaxes visitors' minds and bodies when they see, hear, and feel contemporary ceramics, which otherwise may seem unapproachable, through the familiar theme of relaxation and travel with their eyes, ears, and tactile sense.

The exhibition is about a one-day journey by a traveler who starts walking on a path through a forest, spends a warm day in his hometown, walks along a country road on a starry night, and then goes back home. As the protagonist or a companion on this journey, you will receive messages about nature and way of life contained in contemporary ceramics created by ceramic artists the world over. This exhibition will be an opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of relaxation and on oneself.

Invited Artists

Gang Seol-ja (Ceramics), Go Yeong-gyu (Woodcraft) Kim Jeong-sun (Hanji Korean paper craft), Do Seon-mi (Ceramics), Song Eun-seo (Media art), An Mi-ae (Ceramics) An Seong-man (Ceramics), Lee Hye-won (Ceramics), Jeong Yu-jeong (Ceramics), Jo Hyeon-ha (Textile craft), Han Sin-hui (Traditional natural dyeing craft), Han Ae-gyu (Ceramics)

The exhibition includes an intro and three sections.

Intro: Journey to Relaxation

Breathing in refreshing early morning air, I already feel warm-hearted as I am about to leave for my hometown. I have everything I need for this trip - snacks packed in a nest of boxes, a small tea pot and cups, and a muffler and arm warmers – in my backpack. With a small gift in my hand, every step I make is filled with excitement.

Part 1: Walk in Morning Forest

The deep blue autumn sky looks like as if it is painted in lazuline blue, and the trees are wrapped in solid bark that will block cold wind. The fallen leaves rustle in the wind, and the reeds dance to the sound. Intoxicated by the mood of the season, the sun is already rising above my head and fills the atmosphere with its warmth.

Part 2: Afternoon in Hometown

Walking along the path in forest, I finally arrive in my hometown. Then, I have lunch that my grandmother prepared. Grandmother’s table always brings back precious memories of childhood. I lie on the warm floor of an ondol-heated room and bite into a ripe persimmon to chase away the fatigue from my trip. Chatting over a cup of tea, dusk begins to settle on the courtyard.

2-1 Biting into a persimmon brings yearning for childhood.
2-2 Falling into deep sleep on a warm floor of an ondol-heated room
3-3 Enjoying art while lost in meditation

Part 3: Getting lyrical under the moonlight

On my way back home, the moon and stars hidden behind the dark sky begin to appear. Looking up at the full moon while sitting on a wide rock at the entrance of my hometown, I feel sentimental as I think about my hometown and my old friends. My trip has come to an end. I wish I could have done so much more, but I comfort myself with the moonlight.