노르웨이 공예 전시

Norwegian crafts in Insa-dong

 

European crafts have made their way into the definitive street for traditional Korean artworks and crafts.

Titled "Construction," an exhibition is showcasing 25 works by 16 Norwegian artists at the basement floor of the Korea Craft Promotion Foundation building in Insa-dong, central Seoul.

The show, supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts, landed in Seoul recently after visiting Ireland, Russia, Spain and Chile.

"The main point of this exhibition is that it moved away from the dominant trend in Norwegian decorative arts and crafts since the 1990s which focused on the physical form and structure of the craft. Rather, the exhibits concentrate on the making process, the unique techniques that were used and how they are expressed in the completed work," said Edith Lundebrekke, the exhibition curator.

It's hard to tell if the experimental pieces should be called artworks or crafts. Each artist has created a whimsical piece based on unique techniques.

For example, Marit Helen Akslen weaved a beautiful long white dress by buttoning shirt collars together.

Marianne Moe made triangle-shaped bags using clasps from Norwegian traditional costumes. She sewed textiles with salmon photos on one of them to make the "Salmon Bag" and hiking anoraks to make the "Anorak Bag," which both remind of her country.

All exhibits, though, demonstrate how form and idea are interwoven and how it is not possible to separate the technique used from the underlying idea or meaning behind it.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 9. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 733-9040 or visit www.kcpf.or.kr

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young