Nestled in the heart of Paseo de la Castellana, 15, the Korean Cultural Center will be hosting an extraordinary exhibition titled “Duality: word against paper.” This remarkable showcase features handcrafted jewelry and artisanal works inspired by Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, and Hanji, the traditional Korean paper. As part of Hangeul Week, meticulously organized by the Center, this exhibition will be open to the public without any charge from September 5 to October 31, 2024. It promises an immersive journey into Korean culture, accentuated by a series of complementary events.
The exhibition comprises twenty distinctive pieces of artistic jewelry, goldsmithing and silverware, costume jewelry, and artistic enamel fire on metals. These works are the creation of both students and educators from all Higher Level Cycles of Plastic Arts and Design at the School of Art3. They pay homage to Korea’s rich cultural heritage, utilizing Hanji paper and drawing inspiration from elements such as the Korean alphabet, nature, poetry, and music.
Myriam Toledo, the director of Art School 3, emphasized the significance of this project. Coordinating with other faculty members, she noted, “The opportunity to work with Korean Hanji paper—a completely natural, timeless, fibrous, malleable, ductile, white, flexible, translucent, almost ethereal material—has been both a challenge and a source of inspiration for our students and teachers, who are accustomed to working with metal. The combination of metal and paper broadens our creative horizons and opens up new vistas.” Toledo further highlighted the diversity of the pieces, which range from brooches that can serve as decoys, badges, or flags—each telling intimate stories—to rings that balance subtlety and strength. There are also necklaces that encircle the neck, imbuing the wearer with an aura of power or sweetness. In this creative fusion, concepts like Hangeul have been brought to life, acting as transmitters of personal narratives through artistic forms.
Jaekwang Shin, the director of the Korean Cultural Center, added his thoughts: “This exhibition holds special significance, as it is a project that was interrupted by the pandemic and is now being revived with renewed enthusiasm and energy. The exhibition offers a unique experience that invites visitors to explore the artistic languages of both Korea and Spain, while delving into the intricacies of hanji—a Korean handmade paper known for its complex and labor-intensive manufacturing process, which endows it with exceptional quality and longevity. Due to its numerous properties, such as durability, versatility, and texture, hanji is gaining international acclaim both in traditional applications and contemporary art and design.”
The School of Art 3, a public institution under the Ministry of Education of the Community of Madrid, offers Higher Level Cycles in Artistic Jewelry, Artistic Goldsmithing and Silversmithing, Artistic Costume Jewelry, and Artistic Enamel Fire on Metals. Since 2021, the School has been honored with the National Crafts Award for Public Entities, in recognition of its efforts in disseminating, preserving, experimenting with, and innovating traditional techniques in goldsmithing, jewelry, and enameling, which form part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. “We are privileged to collaborate with the Korean Cultural Center on this exhibition, which has not only strengthened our cultural ties but also expanded our shared knowledge,” concluded the School.
The exhibition: `Duality: word against paper’ is open for public viewing at the Korean Cultural Center until October 31, from Monday to Friday, between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM, completely free of charge.
