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

한국공예작가들 미 최대 공예페어 초청전시

U.S. craft show features Korean artists

 

Korean craft works are set to captivate the United States.

Twenty-six Korean craft artists will be showcasing their works at the 33rd Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show which runs for five days starting today at The Pennsylvania Convention Center.

It is one of the three biggest craft shows in the Untied States, along with the Smithsonian Craft Show and The International Expositions of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art. The trading volume at the Philadelphia craft show alone is approximately $3.5 million, while the size of the U.S. craft market is around $14 billion.

Like the other two shows, only U.S. citizens could participate in the Philadelphia show. But from 2001, the show decided to select guest countries and invite their artists to learn about their crafts and exchange cultures.

Korea is the seventh country that has been invited so far, following Japan, England, Northern Ireland, Germany, Finland and Canada.

"The point is that the biggest craft show in the U.S.A. focused on Korean crafts this time. Our foundation supported the cost for the booths and transportation, because we know that this show will greatly affect the possibility of whether Korean craft artists can advance into the U.S. market or not. This is not only an opportunity for the individual artists but also a great chance to promote Korean crafts as a whole," said Sung Moon-mo, president of Korean Craft Promotion Foundation.

The foundation received applications from 300 artists who wanted to participate in the show and sent the list to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The museum selected the final 26. Some representative artists were left out and some up and coming artists were included through the process, according to the foundation.

The invited artists are Jeon Seong-im for baskets, Go Hee-suk, Kim Mun-gyeong, Kim Ji-hye, Kim Hye-jeong, Yun Ju-cheol, Lee Gi-jo and Lee In-jin for ceramics, Kim Min-ja, Lim Hye-suk, Jang Yeon-sun and Choi Ji-yun for fiber, Park Seong-won and Heo Hye-wuk for glass, Kim Bong-hee, Kim Yu-ra, Mun Chun-seon, Sim Hyeon-seok, Lee Seung-jin and Lee Jeong-gyu for jewelry, Kang Wung-gi and Park Seong-cheol for metal, Jeon Chang-ho for mixed media, Jeong hae-jo for ottchil, Jang Seong-wu for paper and Jo Seok-jin for wood.

The show is strictly commercial, so the selected artists will stay at their booths during the show and take care of the sales themselves.

Curators, collectors and gallery owners from all around the world will be visiting to browse through the works and learn about them straight from the artists.

"It will be a great opportunity to meet buyers who can help artists settle in the U.S. market," said Jo Hi-suk, General Manager of the foundation's industrial promotion division. The foundation also educated the artists on marketing skills for this occasion.

"We got the chance to participate at this competitive show because Korea is the guest country, but nothing is guaranteed for us next year. We will be evaluated purely on our works this time, so I am hoping for good results," said Park Seong-won, a participating artist and professor at Korea National University of Arts. His work "Mask 2" was printed on the cover of the show's pamphlet.

"There are not many shows or fairs like the Philadelphia Craft Show in Korea where craft artists can introduce their works to the public. There should be more, to reinvigorate Korean craft market," he added.

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young