Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation and more than 30 artisans directed a special project. The exhibition “Summering – spending the summer wisely” has captured the viewers’ mind with original handicrafts along with its spatial design.The exhibition lasted for a month and was held in Gangnam-gu, one of the most sophisticated area in Seoul.
Traditional yet original handicrafts and sophisticated spatial design explained how our ancestors spent the summer wisely avoiding the heat of summer. The exhibition was divided into three main sections according to its main theme of food, clothing, and shelter with a separate photo zone.
This project was directed to evoke people of imagery of spending summer as they walk along the handicrafts through carefully directed spatial design divided into three essential part of our lives: food, clothing, and shelter.
Taking a walk in the nature in summer clothes made of ramie
The clothing section was mainly focused on creating the feeling of walking around the bamboo grove. Along with the video of bamboo grove, white poles installed for this section created a narrow spatial perception to the viewers. Whoever walks into this area could think of walking through the bamboo grove.
A scent of summer with a sip of lotus flower tea
Imagine lying down on a shade hiding from the sun. The awning screen waving from the wind of fan created viewers the opportunity to see and feel how ancestors stayed cool under the blazing sun.The installation of the ceiling was made of fabric and stones which came from Korean traditional tents.
A pleasure of reading in midsummer evening
The shelter section gives viewers the feeling of looking inside the room through the ‘Toenmaru’, a traditional Korean housing structure of narrow wooden porch along the room.Surrounded ramie fabric created a spatial perception of the room and it also successfully displayed the Korean tradition of using ramie fabric during the summer time. The modular flooring made from ‘Hanji’, the traditional Korean paper handmade from mulberry trees, for the toenmaru and the room floor was the reinterpretation of Korean tradition in a minimalistic view.
Alongside the shelter section beyond the ramie fabric is the valley of rocks flowing down the stream.The light from the moon gleams on to the rocks that falls from the valley. The sound and the visual of water running down the valley were used to evoke imagery of avoiding the heat of summer wisely in midsummer evening.
Material Used :
1. Hanji - The traditional Korean paper that can express the sentiments of Korean culture which can be represented by warmth and coziness
2. Egg stone - Natural material
3. Ramie fabric
4. Paint - Samhwa paint, Cream colored paint to add a light and warmth
