Youngmin Han (b.1972, Jeju Island, Korea; resides and works in Jeju Island) is a ceramicist whose practice is rooted in the refinement and renewal of traditional Korean woodfiring techniques. Trained at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Han returned to Jeju to establish his studio, Mindo Bang, where he continues to create works that bridge historical craft and contemporary philosophy.
At the core of Han's practice is the Moon Jar, an archetype of Korean ceramics that embodies the philosophy of balance, reciprocity, and quiet restraint. He considers the process of forming a Moon Jar analogous to human relationships-where one element compensates for another, restoring equilibrium. "When one is in excess, the other deters; when one is lacking, the other replenishes," he explains.
Rejecting ceramics as a vehicle for self-indulgence, Han instead emphasises its role as an act of generosity-an expansion of relationships beyond the self. His Moon Jars, with their luminous surfaces and quiet presence, embody a vision of interdependence and harmony, making tangible the Korean ethos of moderation of the overflow, replenishing of the void.
