Korean Cultural Centre AU | Media Release | 2 June 2026

MOON JAR ILLUMINATES SYDNEY

SYDNEY, NSW – 2 June 2026
The Korean Cultural Centre Australia (Director Dr. Sunmin Yoon), in collaboration with Gallery LNL in Newtown, Sydney, presents the jointly curated exhibition Moon Jar; An Axis, opening on 12 June across both venues.

Bringing together 30 artists from Korea and Australia, the exhibition spans ceramics, painting, and photography, using the moon jar (dalhangari, a traditional form of Korean white porcelain produced during the Joseon Dynasty, 1392–1910) as its central conceptual and material focus. The exhibition highlights the enduring aesthetics of Korean white porcelain while tracing its contemporary reinterpretations across diverse cultural and artistic contexts.

At its core, the exhibition seeks to foster meaningful exchange between Korean and Australian artists, while introducing the depth and versatility of Korean ceramic practice to local audiences. It also positions the moon jar as a shared visual language through which new dialogues between tradition and contemporary practice can emerge.

Works by leading Korean artists including Kim Yikyung(ceramics), Lee Hunchung (ceramics), Choi Youngwook (painting), and Koo Bohnchang (photography) are presented alongside nine Korean artists in total and 21 Australian artists, including Janet Dawson (painting), Kevin Lincoln (painting), and Les Blakebrough (ceramics).

Choi Youngwook’s works are known to be part of the Bill Gates collection and have garnered sustained attention in the international art market. Kim Yikyung’s moon jar ceramics are held in the collection of Powerhouse Museum, while Koo Bohnchang’s moon jar photographic works are included in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. These acquisitions by major institutions reflect the growing recognition and influence of K-art in Australia.

In particular, Choi Youngwook and Lee Hunchung will visit Sydney to attend the exhibition opening and participate in the artist talk program.

Across both the Korean Cultural Centre Australia and Gallery LNL, the exhibition offers a dual-site presentation that allows audiences to encounter the moon jar through multiple interpretive lenses, reflecting shifting cultural readings and material approaches.

Through this central motif, Moon Jar; An Axis explores the intersection of Korean and Australian contemporary art practices, examining how traditional forms can be reimagined within expanded cultural and visual frameworks.

"As interest in the moon jar grows in the Australian art scene, this exhibition offers a meaningful platform to present the beauty of Korean white porcelain through contemporary art. Through collaboration with a local gallery, it fosters exchange between Korean and Australian artists and strengthens connections between art communities and audiences. The Centre will continue to expand international partnerships to promote Korean arts and culture globally." said Dr. Sunmin Yoon, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre Australia.

“The moon jar is more than a ceramic object—it symbolises balance within imperfection and restrained beauty. This exhibition offers Australian artists new creative inspiration while introducing the depth of Korean contemporary ceramics and visual art to local audiences.” commented Jin Lee, Director of Gallery LNL.

EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Dates: 12 June – 21 August & 12 June – 11 July
Venues: Korean Cultural Centre Australia (CBD, Sydney) & Gallery LNL (Newtown, Sydney)
Artists: Les Blakebrough, Choi Youngwook, Kwirak Choung, Kirsten Coelho, Janet Dawson, Rachel Ellis, Neville French, Shannon Garson, Ryan Hancock, Kang Minsoo, Shane Kent, Bronwyn Kemp, Kim Syyoung, Kim Yikyung, Hendrik Kolenberg, Koo Bohnchang, Lee Hunchung, Lee Jisook, Kevin Lincoln, Sassy Park, Park Yeontae, Simon Reece, Evan Salmon, Kat Shapiro Wood, Vipoo Srivilasa, Alexandra Standen, Suh Kwangsu, Toni Warburton, Gerry Wedd, Maryanne Wick
 
Interviews are available upon request.

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