'K-Gongye Maeryeok Segyero' Milan Korean Craft Exhibition Opens on the 17th

The government showcases the beauty of Korean (K) crafts in Milan, Italy.

Kim Tae-hoon, President of the Korea Craft and Design Foundation, is explaining the 2023 Korean Traditional Culture Festival 'THAT'S KOREA' to be held in Italy at a press conference held on the afternoon of the 10th at the Government Seoul Office Annex in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Park Bo-gyun, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry) announced on the 10th that, together with the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (President Kim Tae-hoon, hereinafter referred to as KCDF), it will hold the ‘2023 Milan Korea Craft Exhibition’ in Italy from the 17th to the 23rd during Milan Design Week.

The ‘Milan Korea Craft Exhibition’ is a representative exhibition held annually in April during Milan Design Week to showcase the excellence and potential of K-crafts to the world. For this year’s 11th participation, Gu Byung-jun, CEO of PPS and recognized as a planner leading the Korean-style lifestyle, has been appointed as the general director.

The exhibition features the essence of K-crafts in the main exhibition, along with a product planning exhibition that captivates consumers with stylish craft products by emerging Korean artists and pioneers overseas market channels.

The theme of this year’s 11th Milan Korea Craft Exhibition is ‘Variations of Craft.’ It exhibits 65 works including ceramics, metal, wood, glass, lacquer, and flower dropping by 20 representative artists in the craft field, including mid-career artists Yoon Kwang-jo, Kang Seok-young, and Hwang Gap-soon. Gu Byung-jun, CEO of PPS, serves as the general director of this exhibition, and the spatial design is handled by architect Cho Byung-soo.

Director Gu said, “Beyond the past tradition and the purpose of promoting our good culture, we addressed how Korean crafts will undergo variations when looking at the current state and the future in the next year or two.” He added, “This exhibition is not just a place to show tradition but invites VIPs such as gallery and museum officials and collectors by utilizing diverse content including industry and art. We also prepared to show the historical aspects of Korea as seen by foreigners, beyond just the excellence of a single country.”

In Milan, from the 17th to the 22nd, opening ceremonies, exhibitions, and experience programs will be held at historical and cultural facilities such as Palazzina Appiani. The theme is ‘That’s Korea: Visual Order, Color.’

The exhibition planning is led by art director Kim Ju-il. The exhibition includes media art content with transcendental themes crossing traditional and modern boundaries, four representative hanbok pieces showcasing the beauty and charm of Korea through delicate combinations of lines and surfaces, soban tables neatly arranged with the colors of Korea’s four seasons, transparent hojokban trays decorating the exterior space of the exhibition hall, and traditional patterned bojagi wrapping cloths.

Milano Korean Craft Exhibition Poster
[Photo by Korea Craft and Design Foundation]

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The opening event on the 18th consists of a hanbok fashion show and a Korean cuisine VIP reception. Sixteen hanbok inspired by dancheong (traditional multicolored paintwork on wooden buildings), flower-and-bird paintings, and ink wash paintings will be presented, and a Michelin-starred chef will serve traditional Korean dishes, beverages, and fusion Korean cuisine to about 100 locals.

At the Marciana National Library in Venice, a hanji (traditional Korean paper) special exhibition will be held from the 13th to the 30th, showcasing about 80 works by 15 domestic creators using traditional hanji. On the 19th, KCDF, the Marciana Library, and the National Central Library of Rome plan to sign a business agreement related to ‘Utilization of Traditional Hanji for the Preservation and Restoration of Documentary Culture.’ An international seminar on ‘Utilization and Transformation of Traditional Hanji’ will be held in Brescia on the 15th. From the 25th to the 30th, part of the ‘Visual Order, Color’ exhibition shown in Milan will be introduced.

Kim Tae-wan, head of the Traditional Living Culture Division at KCDF, said, “The Milan Korea Craft Exhibition, KCDF’s representative exhibition, has been established so far, providing a foundation to vigorously promote the THAT’S KOREA event this year.” He explained, “The exhibition is realized with content that modernly expresses the regular structure and colorful patterns of Korea’s unique lacquered dancheong.”

A Ministry official stated, “This exhibition will be an opportunity to spread the charm of K-crafts worldwide,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that Korean crafts are loved not only by our people but also by people around the world.”

Images of the exhibited works and detailed introductions will be available on the Milan Korea Craft Exhibition website in line with the exhibition opening on the 17th.

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