Appreciating the uses and beauty of crafts
Top: Korean craft artist Kim Joon-yong’s glass bowl was made by glassblowing. Left: Artist Kim Hee-jong’s boxes made of silver and ceremic. Right: Artist Jeon Sung-geun’s white porcelain vase. All three works are on display in the Theme section of the Craft Trend Festival that kicks off at COEX on Dec. 18. Provided by KCDF
“In the early days of mankind, human beings made everything from natural resources,” Sohn said. “They made everything from bowls and plates to accessories and ornaments. Crafts have been in people’s lives from the earliest days.”
The natural processes behind making crafts led to the theme of this year’s fair, “Temperature 36.5°.”
“The temperature that changes soil into ceramics, or the temperature that melts glass and metals to turn them into ornaments - it all requires different temperatures,” he said. “Then how many degrees Celsius are the craft works made with artists’ time and sweat? I believe it’s 36.5 degrees Celsius - the body temperature that keeps human beings healthy.”
According to Sohn, the point of crafts is that they are “created by artists and used by ordinary people in their lives.”
This year’s Craft Trend Fair, organized by the Korea Craft and Design Foundation (KCDF), will focus on how handmade items can connect with people both as artwork and for practical uses. All of the items at the fair will be for sale.
The fair, which will be held in Hall A of COEX in southern Seoul from Dec. 18 to 21, is divided into seven sections: Theme, KCDF, Overseas, Creative Gongbang, Industry/University, Gallery and Program.
The “Temperature 36.5°,” section will show how crafts can be useful and some pieces that can be appreciated as art.
Twenty artists submitted crafts that are practical and twenty others contributed art.
“We focus on how crafts can be integrated into people’s lives,” Sohn said of the “Practicality” display. “We’ll show visitors the practicality, functionality and compatibility of crafts and introduce how they are also eco-friendly.”
On the other hand, Sohn said the crafts in the “Sensibility” section will make visitors appreciate the “true beauty of crafts that machines can’t come close to imitating.” Decorative works will be on display in this area, such as blown glass and boxes made from a mix of ceramic and metal.
In the Overseas and Gallery areas, visitors can see crafts from teams made up of foreigners.
In Overseas, Craft Council UK, Ateliers d’Art de France and the General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China will be drawing in visitors with their art alongside representatives from four galleries including JF Chen in Los Angeles, Sarah Myerscough Gallery in London, Yamaki Art Gallery in Osaka and the Art Seasons Gallery in Singapore.
“Sarah Myerscough will also be at the Talk Stage as a guest speaker on Dec. 20,” said Lee Won-ju, director of the gallery IVS Craft, who organized the display.
Necklace by Camille Lescure of the Ateliers d’Art de France
The KCDF said that it will focus on business transactions this year by inviting more buyers to the fair, which is now in its ninth year.
Kim Nae-su, an official at the KCDF, said the government’s help bringing in international buyers and participants to the fair has been the key to increasing sales
Last year, about 31,000 people visited the fair and on-site sales reached about 270 million won ($245,000), according to the KCDF. The organization said that sales made separately by participating artists after the fair was about 500 million won.
“We expect the numbers to increase to 40,000 visitors this year, and about 400 million won in sales during the fair,” Kim said.
The fair will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Dec. 18 to 21. The entrance fee is 8,000 won. For more information, call (02) 398-7971 or visit craftfair.kcdf.kr.
BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [sharon@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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