[The Berliner] Pride of Seoul: Award-Winning Crafts Grace Berlin's Art Scene

This month, Berlin’s vibrant cultural tapestry is set to become even richer as it welcomes a new exhibition. Award-winning craft artists from Seoul, recognized for their contributions to both traditional and contemporary craft, bring fresh perspectives to Berlin’s renowned art community. Artist Sukkeun Kang, the grand prize winner of the first competition held by the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA), uses a delicate lacquer technique that reveals the grain of the wood, creating multifunctional hamji(a large-sized wooden bowl). His work draws inspiration from "nature and materials," capturing the essence of natural phenomena such as mountain ridges, the sea, and typhoons. Eunjin Jung, another selected artist from the SeMoCA competition, focuses on adding dimensionality to flat textiles. She works with thin, lightweight fabrics that, through their transparency, reveal subtle shifts in color as they overlap. Sangwook Huh, known for reinterpreting the traditional Korean pottery technique "buncheong" with a modern aesthetic, and Sojung Pyeon, who incorporates a variety of colors into simple forms using traditional lacquer techniques, are also among the prominent craft artists actively working in Seoul. These artists will showcase their original works at the upcoming Berlin Craft-Expansion Fair (BCF). BCF will take place from October 9 to 12,2024 at various locations across Berlin. Under the theme "Boundless Creations," the exhibition explores new artistic possibilities through the contemporary reinterpretation of traditional crafts. It offers a unique opportunity to reconsider the value and potential of craft as an art form that transcends mere handmade objects. BCF director Yousun An remarked, "This exhibition will provide a platform for Seoul's craft artists to meet and expand the boundaries of craft in Berlin’s innovative art environment. Visitors will be able to experience the beauty of art where tradition and modernity harmonize."