Third River

Dong Hee Suh, artist

born 1947

Third River, 2004

Where object was made: New York, United States

Material/technique: stoneware

Credit line: Gift of the artist in honor of Professor William Bracker

Accession number: 2011.0481

On display: Lee Study Center

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Form & Flux: Contemporary East Asian Ceramics and Surface Stories

Itō Sekisui, a fifth-generation potter from Sado Island, carries on his family’s tradition of crafting Mumyoui-yaki, a delicate, reddish-brown porcelain. The clay, historically sourced from gold mines, was also used for medicinal purposes. Itō’s innovation lies in directing kiln flames to create striking red and black contrasts, while layering colored clay to add depth. His work reflects a modern interpretation of his family’s legacy, blending natural firing effects with contemporary design techniques.

Exhibition Label:
"Nature/Natural," Jul-2014, Kris Ercums
Ceramic ritual objects demonstrate the emergence and flourishing of religious practice on the Korean peninsula. Objects like the kundika were used to sprinkle water in rituals dedicated to Buddhist divinities while baekja (white ware) was utilized in Confucian ancestral worship during the Joseon dynasty. While many of these ritual objects were initially created using expensive materials such as bronze, over time ceramic versions were increasingly used, which preserved the original ritual significance and made them more readily accessible to a wider audience. Many contemporary ceramic artists continue to draw inspiration form earlier ceramic traditions, expand this historical legacy in the world today.