Exhibition: Korean aesthetics and crafts shine through the concept of "Weaving" at the Korean Cultural Centre, London

London Craft Week 2023 may be officially closed, but one can still enjoy some amazing works currently on show as part of the festival over at the Korean Cultural Centre in London, on The Strand.

Bamboo screens by Daeyong Cho

Entitled LIGHT OF WEAVING: Labour-Hand-Hours, the exhibition will run until June 30 2023.

It is co-presented by the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK), and the Soluna Art Group, highlighting Korean aesthetics through the concept of ‘Weaving’.

The show brought together 11 masters and artists, featuring pieces that have been creatively formed by employing long-established Korean techniques and materials. It is part of the Travelling Korean Arts project to present Korean's aesthetics and historical values through the artworks of bamboo blind-making and artworks made of horsehair, paper, glass, porcelain, textiles, metal and lacquer, re-interpreted into modern crafts.

Dahye Jeong's creations made with horsehair, featured in a film, won him the 
 2022 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.

As the title suggests, the exhibition explores the notion of weaving to symbolise a connection between eastern and western cultures.  Displayed artworks are strategically placed to embrace the objects’ silhouette and texture amplified through the use of light and shadow. 

Artworks from 11 craft masters are featured: 

Dahye Jeong's "A Time of Sincerity II"
in white horsehair.

First and foremost is Dahye Jeong winner of the 2022 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.  She works with horsehair, a fast-diminishing skill, in creating three-dimensional vessel shapes.  The technique was taken from the making of traditional Korean men's headwear 'gat', creating new forms, resulting in amazing shapes and patterns especially when held against light.

Daeyong Cho's bamboo blind with 
Buddhist cross pattern.

Daeyong Cho, who has been designated among Korea’s intangible cultural assets, is a fifth-generation bamboo blind maker and his works were featured in the Netflix series Kingdom.  Korean bamboo blinds, known as "jukbuin" or "sudare" in Korean, are decorative window coverings made from woven bamboo strips. They serve multiple purposes, including providing shade, privacy, and ventilation. The process of making traditional bamboo blinds involves several steps:

Three versions of the Blossom Jar in porcelain, by Jaenyoung Jang.

Sinhyeok Ha creates clay landscapes with his vessels while Jaenyoung Jang makes the perfect form of porcelain objects. 

Moon Jar in porcelain by Yikyung Kim.

Yikyung Kim is a first-generation contemporary ceramic artist who creates porcelain pieces. 

Jungmo Kwon designs lights by experimenting with Korean paper Hanji. 

Youngsun Lee’s textile pieces are an interpretation of Korean monochrome paintings. 

In the foreground, Woosun Cheong's Open Vases in copper and iron.  On the platform behind, 
Kyouhong Lee's glass sculptures created with lacquer and gold.
On the wall is Sungyoul Park's laquer artwork on wood.

The exhibition also features the 2023 Loewe Foundation Finalists: Woosun Cheon makes metal wicker-like pieces and Kyouhong Lee’s works are inspired by traditional objects. Healim Shin deconstructs canvas to create on-off objects and art jewelry. The 2021 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize Finalist Sungyoul Park experiments with lacquer sap.

This exhibition showcases Korean valued traditional crafts, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship. They require skilled artisans who have mastered the techniques passed down through generations, contributing to the preservation of these traditional arts.

Photos by Lucia Carpio.