Asian Art Museum Docent Talk and Slideshow: Spirit of the Humble Clay
DAVID BUCHANAN
Thursday, June 21.
6:30 p.m.
$12, $10 OHCA members.
A sense of humility and a reverence for the spirit of the clay has infused Korean esthetics since early days. For centuries since their giant neighbor China began making brightly colored ceramics and eventually porcelain, Korean preferences favored unglazed stonewares. We will consider how these preferences changed over time, and the effect that Korean esthetics exerted on feelings of “wabi” and “sabi” in Japan . ln time even America and Europe were to reflect the Korean love of the spirit of the humble clay. RSVP by June 15.
David Buchanan first became interested in Asian art and culture in 1953 while in Korea and Japan with the U.S. Army. His work as a physician brought him into contact with an interesting segment of both Korean and Japanese life. After he retired from the Army and settled in the Bay Area , he became a docent at the Asian Art Museum. He has continued to travel extensively in east and south Asia and to study their art and literature.
