Korean craft fascinates Milan
Installation view of “Monochrome Monologue” at Superstudio in Milan, Italy / Courtesy of KCDF
By Kwon Mee-yoo
The refined beauty of Korean craftwork received a favorable response during last week's the Milan Design Week. The “Monochrome Monologue” exhibit was held at Superstudio in Milan, Italy, at the helm of fashion designer-turned-director Jung Ku-ho.
This was part of the “Constancy and Change” exhibition series organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (KCDF).
Jung handpicked 23 artists for this exhibit. The master artisans and contemporary craft artists participating in the exhibit show how traditional and modern craft are interweaved organically.
Half of the gallery space was white, with the other half black, showcasing a stark contrast. Jung's space design in black and white was inspired by Korean ink-and-wash painting.
In the white section, artwork were displayed in a transparent “sabang takja” or four-shelf open “etagere,” decorated by artisan Yang Hyun-seung's metalwork, in traditional “Scholar's Accoutrements” style. On the shelves were “Gat,” a Korean traditional horsehair hat made famous through the Netflix Korean zombie series “Kingdom,” created by Park Chang-yeong and Park Hyeong-bak; brassware by Lee Gi-hong and Lee Hyuk; fans crafted by fan master Bang Hwa-seon; “norigae,” a Korean traditional ornament, by intangible cultural asset Kim Young-hee; and other traditional craftwork including glass, silver and mother-of-pearl.
The centerpiece of the black part was hundreds of sheets of natural-dyed silk by master Kim Chun-woo, mounted with gold leaf imprinting master Kim Ki-ho's platinum leaves.
Buddhist monk Seongpa presented a deep black lacquer work, and graphic designer and typographer Ahn Sang-soo created a modern-style letter painting.
According to the KCDF, the six-day installation attracted over 35,000 visitors, presenting the essence of Korean craft.
The Italian daily II Sole 24 selected "Monochrome Monologue" as one of the 10 must-see things during the Milan Design Week, while Italian actor Francesco Mandelli introduced the exhibit on Italian broadcaster Rai 2.
Sheila Loewe, director of the Loewe Foundation of the Spanish fashion house, saw the exhibition and said the craftwork on display were unique in shape, color and use, according to the KCDF.