Enjoy Korean Traditional Crafts with VR~~~

Yongsan-gu 'Light of Hope' VR Exhibition... Resident Artists Exhibition at Craft Center... Exhibition of Works by 15 Resident Artists at Craft Center

Lacquerware artist An Deokchun's work 'Yeomyeong'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) will continue the virtual reality (VR) exhibition 'Crafts From Yongsan: Yeomyeong (Light of Hope)' until February 28 next year.

The exhibition features works created together by 15 resident artists at the Craft Center (Lee Tae-sook, Lee Hwang-jae, Hwang Gap-joo, Kim Young-in, Jeong Shin-ja, Choi Myung-soon, Kim Mi-hwa, Kim Sung-hee, Kim Won-sook, Noh Yong-sook, Kim Tae-ja, Oh Seung-hee, Shim Young-mi, Lee Young-ae, An Deok-chun).

Notable works include 'Yeomyeong' by lacquerware artist An Deok-chun, 'Pure Silver Sariho' by metal craftsman Hwang Gap-joo, 'Song of Hope' by hanji craftsman Jeong Shin-ja, 'Gyubang Second Floor Chest' by chilbo artist Kim Mi-hwa, 'Jangsaengdo' by minhwa artist Kim Young-in, and 'Royal Medicine Pouch' by embroidery artist Kim Tae-ja.

Over 30 pieces are exhibited. They can be viewed for free on the Craft Center’s website ‘Online Exhibition Hall’, and in-person visits will be possible when social distancing measures are eased.

The district has been operating the Yongsan Craft Center VR exhibition hall since last July to both prevent the spread of COVID-19 and enhance cultural life for residents.

Exhibitions such as ‘Sijak (矢作): Gwangyanggung Market Special Invitation Exhibition’, 'Crafts From Yongsan: Hand, Path (手道)', and 'Paldo Craft Exhibition Gangwon Province Edition: Built with Hanji' have been held in VR and are still available on the Craft Center’s website.

Mayor Seong Jang-hyun said, “We have exhibited works by leading traditional craft artists in Korea in one place,” adding, “Once social distancing levels drop, we will resume activities such as craft sales, exhibitions, and education.”

The Yongsan Craft Center is located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (274 Itaewon-ro). Completed in 2018, it has three basement floors and four above ground floors, with a total floor area of 2,800㎡. It includes a craft sales hall on the first floor, a ceramics and hanbok experience center on the second floor, a craft learning center and workshops on the third floor, and exhibition rooms and an outdoor performance hall on the fourth floor.

'Craft From Yongsan: Dawn' VR Exhibition Hall

Besides craft sales, the center has operated planned exhibitions, one-day experiences, craft classes, and neighborhood learning centers, but it closed all facilities from the 5th due to the social distancing level being raised to 2.5.