Gyubang, a ladies’ chamber in a traditional Korean house, designed by Kim Young-seok for “Hidden Match ― An Exhibition of Korean Craft” at the Saudi National Museum. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
Craftsmen and their works are increasingly at the vanguard of the promotion of Korean culture, with an exhibition in Saudi Arabia being the latest example.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the month-long “Hidden Match ― An Exhibition of Korean Craft” kicked off on Thursday at the Saudi National Museum with 34 artists featuring 106 sets of items. This is the first time a handicraft exhibition is being held in the Gulf state.
Featuring a wide range of handicrafts ― including ceramic art, metalwork, wooden furniture, lacquerware, and mother-of-pearl inlay works ― the exhibition presents quintessential Korean aesthetics and design. Three workshops are being held on site to allow locals to experience the works with their own hands.
One of the highlighted exhibits is the recreation of a “gyubang,” a women’s chamber in a Korean traditional house. Under the orchestration of famed hanbok designer Kim Yeong-seok, the lacquered closet, colorful mattress and bedclothes, dressing table and coffret, sewing box and other items are on display inside a room designed in the traditional way.
“I think gyubang has a lot to offer to the Middle Eastern people because the two cultures have something in common ―the ladies’ chamber was always a very secretive and secluded place in a house,” Kim said. “Beauty is universal and I am confident that Saudi Arabians will understand what makes up the aesthetics of Korean handicrafts.”
The exhibition is a result of Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Al-Saud’s proposal to Korean Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong to hold a festival highlighting Korean handicrafts in Saudi Arabia within the year. After observing Korean craftwork in Seoul and learning that about 50 pieces of Korean craftwork were featured during the “Salone Internazionale del Mobile” in Milan in April, the prince offered to hold an exhibition explaining his country’s newly launched project to boost the sector.
The government here is confident that Korean handicrafts can become the face of Korean culture in the future.
“More Korean craftsmen are showing off their talents on a global scale. Korea participated in the British ‘Collect’ craft fair earlier this year and we are planning to hold a Korean exhibition at the Paris’ Musee Les Arts Decoratifs in 2015,” a ministry official said.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)
