Finding art and creativity in the everyday

One of the industrial art works on display at the Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2007. Provided by the organizer

This week one of the largest exhibitions of industrial art in the world will open in Korea, offering a glimpse into the past, present and future of craftsmanship.
The Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2007 will take place in North Chungcheong, where the world’s oldest metal printing tool, the jikji, originated.
This is the fifth time the event has taken place since its inauguration in 1999.
“With this year's event we hope to provide an opportunity for Cheongju to reinvent itself as a city for industrial arts by enlarging the artistic quality of industrial arts as well as their commercial quality and appeal to the mass market,” said Nam Sang-woo, the mayor of Cheongju and head of the organizing committee.
This year the biennale, which runs through Oct. 28., has a special exhibition of North Korean crafts. There are approximately 40 North Korean products to illustrate the similarities and differences between the two Koreas.
One exhibit of special note is a modern interpretation of Goryeo Dynasty porcelain by the North Korean ceramic artist U Chi-son, titled “A Flower Vase Decorated with Twin Cranes.” In addition some 150 major cultural assets of Korea will be on display.
The biannual celebration is taking place in two locations; Cheongju Arts Center and the Cheongju High-Tech Cultural Industry Complex. This year 2,000 artists from 50 countries are participating with approximately 6,000 works.
Approximately 1,100 artists from 43 countries participated in the International Craft Competition for this year’s event. Its theme was “Creative Evolution.”
Visitors can also enjoy several hands-on programs, such as “O-gong, let’s play” and “Becoming familiar with jikji.”
In the former a team of professional artists will help visitors create their own crafts using polymer clay, natural soaps, and papers.
There will also be a crafts demonstration by students from Korean Universities.
The entry fee is 8,000 won for adults, 4,000 won for teenagers and 3,000 won for children.
For more information call (043)277-2501~2 or visit the Web site at www.cheongjubiennale.or.kr.

By Lee Ho-jeong Staff Writer [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]