Onggi Demonstration + Q&A with Kwak Kyungtae

Korean Onggi Technique Demo +  Q&A (3hrs)

What is Onggi? Onggi has been popularized as Korea’s large fermentation vessels, but its meaning is not limited only to large vessels. We explore how Onggi refers to a way of working with certain types of clay and with certain firing styles. In this intensive demo session we uncover the deep roots of onggi in Korean society and its role as a vessel for humanity, both literally and figuratively. We begin by exploring how specific cultural, geographical, and culinary contexts informed the development of this incredible set of techniques, then dive right into making. As master Kwak Kyungtae forms an onggi start to finish, Marco Minetti will be translating the master’s commentary and explaining in intricate detail each part of the process. One of the beautiful aspects of Onggi is that each movement is informed and has been refined by generations of potters. As this knowledge has been carried forth, you will witness the same movements that were being used thousands of years ago. Attendees will leave with an understanding of:

• Regional influences, i.e how geographical limitations influenced subtleties of form and making techniques
• Clay sourcing, storage, and preparation for making onggi, historical and contemporary approaches
• Practical method to stretch coils (Taryeom) on the table from a block of clay
• Making the base disc and compressing it flat with the pang-mang-i (wooden striking tool)
• Coiling process (Taryeom-jil), simultaneously attaching the coil and creating height in the wall of the piece in a rhythmic set of micro techniques that become one collective movement
• Paddling the form (Surae-jil) using wooden tools inside and outside to compress, thin, and shape the form on the wheel
• Final Shaping (Geun-gae-jil) using metal rib tools for smoothing the surface while altering the line of the final form. 
• Rim forming and refining using a traditional long shammy cloth (Jeon-tae) 
• Scribing of lines and decorative motifs, historical significance and their role in accentuating form
• Lifting the freshly made onggi off the wheel with traditional cloth method
• Kwak’s interpretation of traditional onggi techniques in his artistic practice, along with an invitation to using traditional tools and techniques to inspire new ways of thinking and working