The Korean embassy in Ireland held an exhibition featuring 6 artists from traditional to modern crafts and art. The opening ceremony was held in the Irish Architectural Archive on the 27th of August and continued until September 6th.
Lee Jungsook
Gyeonsag sinjangdo
2018
Silk, Silk-thread, Gold thread
90x98cm
Lee Jungsook's work fascinated visitors due to her embroidery work mimicking a painting itself, with some of her pieces taking over 2 years to complete. Her art is also protected by UNESCO, which protects cultural sites and culture for future generations.
I was told that the word 'Gyeonsag' refers to the type of god, which the embroidered symbols are, and the second word 'sinjangdo' refers to the type of art it i
Yeo Yeounga
Whispers of White Geraniums
2024
Oil Paint on Canvas
100x70cm
Yeo Yeounga is an artist who is currently based in Dublin since 2010. She had featured various flowers of different canvas sizes. Two of the paintings being white flowers with various light sources, realistic shadows, and a variety of shading which emulates the feeling of walking past a park.
Seo Saeri
Popping Good Child - Ju Byeong 2
2024
15x14.5x25 cm
Porcelain, Oxidation
1250°C
Seo Saeri's art focuses on social commentary about the Korean societal norms of woman and exploring the 'good child syndrome'. She combats this by trying to become a good person, which is highly remarked in her work. She features a variety of vase shapes, which are broken in various placements but these gaps are filled with the flower of Iris, which is a symbol of hope.
Jang Hyunho
Magnolia 202303111749
2023
Muk(Korean black ink)
pigment(Gohun) on hanji(Korean handmade paper)
70x21cm
It was amazing to see Korean Hanji paper in many of the artists. Hanji paper is made from the pulps of the mulberry tree where the traditions dates as far back as 800 years ago. Jang Hyunho used contrasting colours in his work by using the base colour of the paper to his advantage and adding highlights to create depictions of nature.
Damwon Kim Changbae
Stream of No-mind
2023
Ink and light colour on Hanji paper
60x135cm
Damwon Kim Changbae is a phenomenal artist who taught two calligraphy and painting classes on the following Thursday. His art is referred to as Zen Ink Painting - with a lot of references to Buddhism - since you let the art flow from the paintbrush, which in his case happens to always be perfect from his 50 years of practice. He is also the 71st generation descendant of King Suro, founder of Geumgwan G
Sung Somin
Old, fully-green
2024
Carved and coloured on woodblock
190x130cm
Sung Somin's art was the most modern art in my opinion. She carves texture such as roads, accompanied by colourful paints as a landscape. The carving takes away segments of the wood which allows her to fill these gaps with her own imagination. Her art has a different view from the other artists in the exhibition as it was best viewed from far away, compared to the other art where others walked closer to see the de
The ceremony also held talks by the Republic of Korea's Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Yong-Kil Kim, Jane Fenion who is a Doctorate in Art History (featured talking in the photos), Lee Jungsook and Damwon Kim Changbae. This was an incredible opportunity which helped the Irish community see work by renowned Korean artists.
If you would like to see further work here are the portfolios of some artists -
Yeongartfolio.creatorlink.net
ireas_saeri on instagram
www.damwongallery.artko.kr