Knowing that a foreign country is more than just a place with a specific type of food or mannerisms or sliver of media that the West decides to put on a streaming service is never not important. We may not be able to know everything about a place we’ve never visited, but it never hurts to learn, should the opportunity present itself.
To highlight Korea’s beautiful and rich culture, the Korea Cultural Centre Canada is organizing a series of exhibitions called Kaleidoscopic Korea. This series highlights various aspects of Korean aesthetics. The objects displayed in the exhibition have brought over from prominent Korean cultural institutions, from the National Intangible Heritage Center to the National Hangeul Museum.
The current exhibition, titled K-Lifestyle, presents traditional Korean lifestyle practices and household items from the National Folk Museum in Korea and donated to the Korean Culture Box. Also featuring contemporary Canadian works inspired by traditional Korean arts, the exhibit foresees a completely different dynamic of Korean beauty for the future. It also includes Korean cultural heritage objects created by nationally certified artisans from the National Intangible Heritage Center.
“Bringing the past to the present, the first part of the series provides a window for people to see what life was like centuries ago,” says Han Lee, the Centre’s public relations manager. “Thanks to well-preserved records, we know the life of people during the Joseon Dynasty. The display of a typical living space of a scholar takes the audience to imagine what the life of being a man or woman in Confucian society was like.”
Anbang Box shows the hidden living space of women and their most cherished possessions during the Confucian society in the Joseon Dynasty. Photo provided by Han Lee.
Sarangbang Box presents the living space of Confucian scholars during the Joseon Dynasty in the 14th-19th centuries, highlighting male spaces. Photo provided by Han Lee.
“Then there is contemporary art by Korean-Canadian artists,” says Lee. “The pieces on display drew their inspiration from Korean culture, and the fine details are truly enjoyed when seen in person.”
An award-winning ceramicist and former art director in South Korea, Joon Hee Kim’s work explores what it means to be alive while reconciling the myriad identities of the world, seeking out the compelling forces of beauty and desire. Since switching careers and shifting her interest to ceramics, her creations have been displayed in the U.S., Germany, and the U.K. She was a recipient of various honourable awards and grants, including, but not limited to, the Helen Copeland Memorial Award for 6-consecutive years from the Craft Ontario Council, the Best of Student Exhibition from the Toronto Outdoor Fair and the prestigious Winifred Shantz National Award for an extraordinary emerging ceramic artist (to name a few).
Joon Hee Kim, Something Divine. Photo provided by Han Lee.
Chung-Im Kim’s work may be contemporary, but it also comes from the rich traditions of her country. The Korean-Canadian artist has received awards and exhibitions for her work in many prestigious institutions, such as the Boston Museum of Art, the invitational Bojagi Exhibition at the Suwon Park Museum in Korea, the Museum Nagele in the Netherlands, and many more. Since receiving her MFA from Seoul Women’s University in 1984 and immigrating to Canada in 1990, Kim has worked as a freelance designer and taught at OCAD University in Toronto.
Chung-Im Kim, Dawn. Photo provided by Han Lee.
“The Korean culture in recent times were led by pop cultures—K-pop is perhaps the most popular one at that, with likes of BTS and Blackpink gaining international fans,” says Lee. “Squid Game and Parasite also led to an increase in the consumption of Korean media.”
Poster Letter. Photo provided by Han Lee.
“We hope to bring about appreciation and understanding through exhibitions such as this and, through this understanding, forge stronger people-to-people ties.”
Kaleidoscopic Korea: K-Lifestyle runs until April 5, 2024. Visit the Korean Cultural Centre Canada website for more information.
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