공예의 기능과 미적 표현에서 추상의 문제: 오브제도예를 중심으로

Abstract

This study is to look into the development process of modern 'ceramic object' whose principal expression is abstract, and to review the problems of abstractionism in the function and aesthetic expression of crafts based on the flow of new formative crafts. Since about 1945, one of the important phenomena which appeared in ceramic art is the phenomenon in which pottery work as pure cubic three-dimensional sculpture beyond the form of vessel which has a certain use is made, namely is raising head of abstraction phenomenon. Experimental modern technologists devote themselves to the pattern of the modern art so called change of aesthetic consciousness and abstraction like these and began to change into artists who are looking for their ego in the change of time and society. Therefore, today's modern ceramic art is showing various aspects including practical vessel, sculpture, painting, objet, installation and environmental ceramic, and omission of firing process itself which can be called the basics of the ceramic art. Actually, it can be seen that the craft in expression style began in the abstract form from the beginning unlike pure painting or sculpture. If pure abstractionism is the modern expression style departed from classicism which pursued the imitation of the nature, abstraction only has different concept and is basic expression pattern which has lasted since primitive age until today. It is because the ceramic art from early age transformed the nature into simple pattern and abstracted it rather than realistically mimicking the pattern of the nature. But in general when we say 'abstract ceramic art' in the modern ceramic art, we mainly think of ceramic object which was born under the influence of Abstract Expressionism as a special aspect of 20th century art. It is because by their bravely giving up the function in the equation <craft = function + beauty> which has been carved in us familiarly as essence of crafts, it is formally showing tendency of sculpture and also in the formative thought and spiritual concept demanded by creation shows pure artistic aspect like painting and sculpture. In fact, in the modern ceramic art the concept of object has a little different meaning from the concept used in art. It looks like, as crafts and art are divided, object also grew to have difference. After World War II the word object which was frequently used in crafts community especially in ceramic art community means today's ceramic work with strong formative element, namely cubic three-dimensional formative work which potter made with clay. It is the work excluding usefulness and what is expressed by creativity and free will of the artist intrinsically unlike the past decorative pottery. However, the problem of abstract formative element of modern ceramic art like this colliding with the problem of usefulness which has been recognized as the essence of crafts is causing continuous controversy. It is because such abstract sculpture which is by and large called 'objet ceramic art' by denying the concept of crafts which has been traditionally recognized induce fundamental question "Is it indeed craft?". Nevertheless, if we look at the today's art serenely, objet is already universalized, and that complex and combined experience of art space is inevitably explored is time's trend of the present art world. Accordingly, artists who rather want to become craftsmen who are faithful to tool experiences, that is, craftsmen who are good at handling videos or computer or metal or animation and put idea into those as technical experts become a lot. In such times, it looks like the problem of abstraction in the function and aesthetic expression of crafts, is not a field of the argument which should draw a boundary line as a logic which questions if that is the pure art or craft, but rather it should be possessed by both the artists and consumers who will enjoy it as the field of experience in which they explore and enjoy to an infinite degree diverse aesthetic characteristics in the cleavage between crafts and art.