Hungary brings blue quilt to Korea

Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Gabor Csaba, third from left, celebrates the opening of exhibition “Hungarian Blue Quilt in Seoul. Folk-Art: Source and Inspiration” with Hungarian textile artist Anna Dolanyi, second from left, and Chojun Textile and Quilt Art Museum Director Kim Soon-hee, fourth from left, at the museum in Seoul on Sept. 17. / Courtesy of the Embassy of Hungary

By Rachel Lee

Hungary, an Eastern European country that boasts rich folk art traditions, has brought a unique selection of its blue and white quilt designs to Korea.

They are on display at the Chojun Textile & Quilt Art Museum in Seoul until Nov. 30.

On Sept. 17, Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Gabor Csaba hosted an opening ceremony for the exhibition, “Hungarian Blue Quilt in Seoul. Folk-Art: Source and Inspiration,” which features more than 40 traditional quilts. The embassy, the Hungarian Patchwork Guild and the museum are co-sponsoring the exhibition.

Hungarian textile artist Anna Dolanyi, 80, a founding member of the guild, flew to Korea for the event.

“Handcraft, in particular, provides a unique opportunity to enrich relationships, widen the spectrum of knowledge about each other and offer a glimpse into other traditions and history,” the ambassador said.

“Through the exhibition, you will have a chance to see Hungarian tradition and modern culture at the same time.”

In 1989 two patchwork groups — the Margareta Patchwork Circle in Budapest and the Tarkabarka group of Debrecen — formed the Hungarian Patchwork Guild. The guild, which has about 800 members, joined the European Quilt Association in 2004, and has since presented works in many countries including Spain, England, Italy and Belgium.

“Despite rather a short history, we have developed our own embroidery and sewing fabric printed with Hungarian patterns and also blue dyeing,” Dolanyi said. “Each piece has a name that refers to our folk art, which is our endless source of inspiration.”

Over 40 hand-made Hungarian quilt designs are on display at the Chojun Textile and Quilt Art Museum.

For example, one piece, “Tancolo pava,” means dancing peacock, which represents freedom in Hungary.

Dolanyi said Hungarians had specialized in blue fabrics for a long time.

“Before World War I, more than 100 families produced blue print fabrics, but now only seven are doing the work,” she said.

Visiting Korea for the first time, she praised Korean quilts for their outstanding embroidery.

“Koreans use various colors and it’s beautiful,” she said.

Chojun Textile and Quilt Art Museum Director Kim Soon-hee was also present to mark the opening of the exhibition.

Kim established the museum in 1998 to preserve and enhance Korean textile art. Hundreds of traditional “bojagi” are on display as well as a foreign quilts.

“Apart from blue and white color usage, Hungarian quilts have many snow- themed pieces,” the director said.

“They show off a variety of patterns and overall, they are geometrical. This is what makes Hungarian quilts special from the rest of the world.”