A sincere desire to share the beauty of Dancheong: Finding the center of art through a struggle with clay

The process of exploring the essence of art, going far beyond a simple hands-on experience, proved to be much more intense than expected. Setting aside the glamorous title of "idol" for a moment, the participants stood before the clay, beginning with the task of centering it on the potter's wheel and continuing their struggle toward artistic achievement. Learning the fundamental principle that one's hands must not be swayed by the movement of the clay, they worked to bridge the gap between technical proficiency and mental concentration.

Centering the Clay: Art Beginning at the Fingertips

Handling clay on a potter's wheel required much more delicate manipulation than anticipated. If the clay is not properly centered, the form collapses, or excessive force is applied to the hands, leading to quick exhaustion. Under the guidance that "your hands must not follow the clay," the participants struggled to master the sensation of drawing the clay into their hands. The process of applying water to center the clay and using their feet to control the rotational force appeared almost like a form of ascetic practice.

Some expressed their difficulties, noting that "the manipulation is hard" or saying they "didn't understand why" as they struggled to find the center. However, once the centering began, the forms gradually took shape. While shaping tea bowls by adjusting the narrowing openings, they carefully controlled the pressure of their fingertips, listening closely to warnings that sudden changes could cause the piece to break. The process of completing the forms while visually monitoring the minute changes occurring during the shaping of the clay offered a glimpse into their artistic immersion.

An Unwavering Obsession with Dancheong Even During Taiwan Performances

Their passion for art did not stop at the workshop experience. One participant, who recently completed a performance schedule in Taiwan, shared an anecdote about continuing to practice Meorcheo (the preliminary sketches for Dancheong) even in their hotel room. Devoting even their rest time after glamorous performances to drawing Dancheong patterns, they were deeply captivated by the beauty of traditional motifs. Their statement, "The ultimate goal is to spread the beauty of Dancheong," reveals a serious attitude that goes beyond mere interest.

The sight of them drawing intricate patterns equivalent to a full semester's worth of university coursework even drew praise of "genius" from the master on site. Under the master's guidance, the patterns—completed by finding the center and maintaining symmetry—showed the unexpected synergy that occurs when the energy of their primary profession as idols combines with artistic talent. The finished products, achieved by precisely marking the center and distributing space evenly, proved that the time they spent was not just a simple "experience," but a true "achievement."