Grace Han

• BFA (Dankook University, Seoul, South Korea)

• MFA (University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada)

Grace Han's artistic journey revolves around the exploration of her identity and the establishment of an authentic means of communication with others. As an immigrant from South Korea to Canada, she has found herself navigating the spaces between languages, cultures, expectations, loved ones, aesthetics, and artistic techniques—both traditional and contemporary ceramics. Her creative process serves as a vehicle for expressing this intricate concept of self and striving to capture her true essence.

To embody this multifaceted exploration, Grace employs a diverse range of creation techniques, including throwing on a kick wheel, mould-making, slip-casting, hand-building, and Onggi-making. Additionally, she embraces various firing methods, such as wood, salt, and oxidation, enabling her to convey the depth of her artistic vision.

Grace's artistic practice revolves around the creation of large-scale works utilizing the Onggi technique, which demands substantial physical labour throughout the entire process. During her time in Korea, she had the opportunity to collaborate with numerous professionals in the field and undertook several apprenticeships with master artisans, through which she acquired distinct Onggi techniques traditionally dominated by males. These experiences have enabled her to incorporate these techniques into her own artistic expression, thereby forging her unique voice within the medium.

In contrast, Grace also engages in the repetitive production of a multitude of small porcelain objects, both functional and non-functional. By intertwining these different processes of creation, she delves into the emergence of the true self and explores how her artwork serves as an honest language, capable of fostering direct and authentic conversations with her audience.

Grace is a ceramic artist who received her original training in Seoul, South Korea. She successfully obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Dankook University, specializing in traditional Korean ceramic techniques and skills. Following the completion of her education, Grace further honed her expertise by working for several years in one of Korea's largest ceramic companies, gaining invaluable experience that extended beyond the realm of academia.

Grace's artistic accomplishments have earned recognition from her peers, evident in her selection as an NCECA Emerging Artist and the honour of receiving the NCECA Helene Zucker Seeman Fellowship for Women. Furthermore, her commitment to her art practice has been acknowledged through the receipt of numerous grants from esteemed organizations such as Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, and Winnipeg Arts Council.

Grace has actively participated in various residencies and conferences, conducted engaging hands-on workshops, and delivered lectures and artist talks on numerous occasions, both domestically and internationally.