The Korean Craft and Design Foundation is holding an annual crafts exhibition, aimed at reviving public interest in craftworks and promoting applicability of traditional Korean craftwork in modern lifestyles.

The exhibition, which started on Monday at a gallery run by the state-funded institution in Insa-dong, showcases the aesthetics and practical use of Korean craftworks that still work in modern settings.

“It’s really hard to tell where many of the craftworks we see at craft biennales belong. They lack national identity and in fact, traditional craftworks are being neglected among contemporary craftworks. And traditional craftworks don’t fit into the modern exhibition settings. So here, we are suggesting some modern representations of Korean craftworks and show that they can be well matched with modern interior as well,” said Sohn Moon-su, chief curator of the exhibition, at the press conference on Monday. 

The top floor of the exhibition features a room decorated with furniture, blankets and artwork that retain Korean traditional beauty, but features more practical functions for modern lifestyle. Due to limited exhibition budget, the room is not built to look like the interior of today’s modern houses, but sits against a simple white wall and yellow raised floor, according to curators. The displays inside the room, including a cabinet inlaid with mother-of-pearl, coffee tables, coffee cups and book shelves, are simple and elegant and can serve as key decor items.

The exhibition features the studios of five craft artists, who will demonstrate their work process at designated times. The schedules can be found at the KCDF website (www.kcdr.kr).

Artists in five traditional Korean crafts such as ceramics, glass, lacquer, wood and the artistry of Korean women built mini workshops to show the audience their work processes.

“I heard I have to spend some time a day here at the temporary workshop. I think I am going to teach those who are interested in ceramic works,” said Kim Dae-woong, a ceramic artist who demonstrated the making of unglazed ceramic bowls during the guided tour of the exhibition.

Experts in craft are also invited to hold discussions with an audience every day in 10/10 (10 experts and 10-minute speech) lounge in the basement floor of the gallery. The invited speakers include designer Chung So-young of the famous ceramic wear brand Sikijang, craft artist and professor of Osaka University of Arts Kumano Kiyotaka and design critics, curators and craft artists.

“The craft world has been passive in communicating with the outside world. We live surrounded by craftworks, but have little understanding of the process through which they are created. I would like to open up the closed world of craftworks and invite everyone to talk and ask about crafts,” said Sohn.

The exhibition continues through Sept. 30 at the KCDF Gallery in Insa-dong, Seoul. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/KCDFinsa, or blog.naver.com/kcdf2010.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)