Traditional Crafts of National Intangible Heritage Gathered in One Place

Exhibition of Traditional Craft Masterpieces
to Be Held from May 16

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the National Intangible Heritage Skills Association will hold the "Traditional Craft Masterpieces Exhibition" at the exhibition hall of the National Intangible Heritage Training Center from May 16 to May 23. Under the theme "Embracing Tradition," the exhibition will showcase around 120 traditional craftworks by holders of National Intangible Heritage and members of the National Intangible Heritage Skills Association.

Traditional Crafts of National Intangible Heritage Gathered in One Place

Wongwangsik, National Intangible Heritage Holder of the Casting Furnace, 'Baekje Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner'

The Cultural Heritage Administration Director's Award will also be presented to three artisans who have contributed to the development of traditional crafts. This year's recipients are Wongwangsik, National Intangible Heritage Holder of the Casting Furnace (Cheonggong Award); Seonkyung Park, National Intangible Heritage Knotting Artisan and Transmission Educator (Myeonggong Award); and No Jaekyung, Chungcheongnamdo Intangible Cultural Heritage Boryeong Nampo Brush Pottery Making Transmission Educator (Master Artisan Award).

Wongwangsik will present a life-sized reproduction of the "Baekje Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner," regarded as the finest bronze sculpture in Korea. The piece features a phoenix with outstretched wings atop the lid, intricately decorated layers of mountains and Yaksa figures on the lid, lotus patterns engraved on the body, and a dynamically rendered dragon on the base, achieving a harmonious beauty.

Seonkyung Park, National Intangible Heritage Knotting Artisan and Transmission Educator's "Bichwi Samjak Norigae"

Seonkyung Park will unveil the "Bichwi Samjak Norigae," which highlights a bat-shaped ornament carved from jade and silk threads dyed in three colors. Chrysanthemum knots made with colored threads are woven above and below the ornament, and two tassels engraved with the character "Wang" (meaning "king") are connected to enhance its elegance. Tassels refer to ornaments made by wrapping threads tightly and densely around the head of a cylindrical core after covering it with strands of silk.

No Jaekyung will present the inkstone "Ilwolyeon," crafted from Baegunsangseok, the finest grade of Nampo stone. The ink-grinding area (Yeondang) and the ink-pool (Yeonji) are carved to symbolize the sun and the moon, respectively, as part of the Ilwolyeon motif. The remaining space is adorned with three-dimensional grapevine patterns, showcasing exquisite carving details.