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In Rome, it’s all about Korea’s table

“Jari,” an installation piece by Jihoon Ha, is inspired by soban, small portable dining tables whose shapes differ. The piece is displayed at the “Invitation to Korean Dining” exhibition in Rome. Provided by the National Folk Museum

In hopes of drumming up attention for the Korean pavilion at the upcoming Milan Expo, Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Folk Museum are showcasing artwork related to Korean dining in Rome. The exhibition, entitled “Invitation to Korean Dining,” began on April 23 at the Altar of the Fatherland (also known as the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II) in Rome and will wrap up on May 7.

The Milan Expo kicks off its six-month run on May 1 and the Korean pavilion is expected to be about Korean food. The exhibition in Rome also sheds light on the culture of Korean dining. About 50 pieces from the National Folk Museum’s collection are being shown. More than 30 contemporary art pieces are also exhibited. The photographs, furniture and craft works are all inspired by Korean dining.

“We hope visitors to Rome will get to experience the past and the present of the culture of Korean dining,” Choi Sun-kwon, a curator at the museum, said.

BY KIM HYUNG-EUN [hkim@joongang.co.kr]