Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines Hosts Hangeul Design Project Exhibition and Symposium Showcasing Contemporary Hangeul
2024-09-05Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines Hosts Hangeul Design Project Exhibition and Symposium Showcasing Contemporary Hangeul
Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, which is celebrated for its elegance, accessibility, and profound connection to Korean identity, has found its way to educate the mind, invigorate the culture, and fascinate the eyes of Filipinos today.
With the joint project organized by the Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines (KCC) and the National Hangeul Museum (NHM), an opening ceremony and symposium was held on September 5, 2024, to unveil the Hangeul Design Project Exhibition Tour in the Philippines entitled, “Reinterpreting Hangeul in the Modern Era”.
Running from September 6, 2024, to February 28, 2025, the exhibition aligns with the Visit Korea 2024-2025 initiative by promoting Hangeul in the Philippines and coinciding to commemorate the annual celebration of Hangeul Day every October 9. The 5-month long exhibit is also part of the 75th bilateral year of friendship between Korea and the Philippines, and the promotion of the traveling program under the International Cultural Bureau of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) which aims to provide cultural, friendly, and cooperative relations between Korea and other countries.
The exhibit was unveiled with a free flow of Korean food such as samgak kimbap (rice ball wrapped in seaweed), japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), kimbapjeon (rice roll), gangjeong (rice puff), chuseok (rice cake), yakgwa (deep-fried cookie in honey), assorted fruits, and sikhye (sweet Korean rice beverage) as snacks and refreshments before the opening ceremony began. The ceremony officially started welcoming distinguished guests and featuring a special performance by Ms. Kim Hyelim, a renowned daegeum (flute player) who has won a gold medal at the Korean National Daegeum Competition and performed at the London Jazz Festival.
Following the ceremony, an exhibit tour was conducted by Ms. Kim Eunjae, the curator-in-charge at the National Hangeul Museum. During the exhibit tour, I was struck by a sense of familiarity and awe. As an honorary reporter and an Instagram follower of the National Hangeul Museum, I felt a connection to the art pieces on display. The National Hangeul Museum annually organizes an exhibit for the Hangeul Design Project, and the “Reinterpreting Hangeul in the Modern Era” exhibit was initially unveiled in Korea in 2022. I recalled seeing some art pieces displayed at the event to the artworks posted on NHM’s Instagram page. Moreover, I remember the museum's post last July, announcing that the exhibit was showcased in Vietnam, marking the first Hangeul-themed exhibition at the Vietnam National Library. Now, that the National Hangeul Museum was able to bring it here in the Philippines, seeing the exhibit in person was a completely different experience – one that stirred a deep sense of privilege and honor within me.
A familiar art piece was the "ME뉴板" board by Hyunsun Yoo, which bridges language and culture by blending Korean, English, and Chinese in both its title and design, resembling menu boards from street stalls. I was captivated by the creative use of Hangeul as a central element, highlighting its interaction with other languages in a globalized world. As Korean cuisine reaches beyond borders, translating food names becomes a linguistic and cultural exchange such that Hangeul's evolution in the contemporary world also has a multicultural context.
Another piece that was familiar but piqued my interest seeing personally was Han Donghoon’s “Forms of the Language”. These 8-board panels reimagine Hangeul by presenting it in a fresh, linear format where each letter is separated horizontally. The phrases are written in traditional and experimental ways, using a variety of fonts – from formal block letters to playful, rounded styles. This unconventional approach intrigued me, sparking curiosity about how far Hangeul can be pushed in its visual presentation while maintaining its readability.
My favorite display on the exhibit was the Lee Chungchung’s masterpiece called “Unfamiliarity, Newness, and Fusion”. It encapsulates Korea's modernization by blending Eastern and Western elements through fashion. The piece combines Western garments like trench coats and sweatshirts with the traditional Hanbok structure and Hangeul imprints. This fusion of cultures is expressed through quality materials and modern Korean Hangeul patterns, symbolizing the merging of tradition and modernity.
The event concluded with a thought-provoking symposium, where curators from Korea and the Philippines shared their insights and expertise on maintaining museum relevance and preserving the balance between Hangeul’s rich heritage and the process of Hanguel’s modernization in today’s contemporary world. What stood out to me were Ms. Kim Eunjae’s remarks on how the creation of Hangeul helped Korea address societal challenges and how it continues to thrive today. She emphasized Korea’s innovative use of augmented reality and new media to make Hangeul a powerful and evolving script. Dr. Elba Cruz, curator of the Manila Clock Tower Museum, also highlighted how culture is the soul of a nation, praising Koreans for successfully unifying their culture and building a strong foundation through their writing system.
Overall, witnessing the colors, textures, and sheer scale of the artworks during the exhibit brought a new level of depth and meaning to Hangeul and design for me. It was truly fascinating to see how the National Hangeul Museum has continued to reinterpret Hangeul, incorporating contemporary elements and artistic expressions bringing versatility to Korean writing.
The artworks and symposium made me reflect on the uniqueness of Hangeul and how its form can adapt to new, creative contexts without losing its essence. It challenges the boundaries of tradition, reminding me that language is not static but constantly evolving and is capable of adopting new shapes while staying rooted in its origins.
As the Philippines welcome Hangeul through this exhibit, may Filipinos gain a deeper appreciation for the resilience and significance of the Korean script, understanding the pride that Koreans take in preserving their language. And who knows, maybe someday, it could be the Philippines’ turn to bring the Filipino writing (baybayin) to Korea, fostering a mutual exchange of cultural pride and linguistic tradition.
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