From February to June this year, the Korea Cultural Centre Canada is organizing Kaleidoscopic Korea, a series of exhibitions showcasing Korea's timeless beauty. Borrowing from the theme of a kaleidoscope, which constantly intertwines underlying elements and intermediaries to create dynamic imagery, this exhibition series presents various facets of Korean aesthetics—from lifestyle to the Hangul writing system and K-food; from tradition to the present; from Korea to Canada. The objects displayed in the exhibition have been produced by prominent Korean cultural institutions such as the National Folk Museum, the National Intangible Heritage Center, the National Hangeul Museum, and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation. In addition, the exhibition features contemporary Canadian craftworks inspired by traditional Korean arts. These diverse subjects and identities envision a completely different dynamic of Korean beauty for the future, encouraging dialogues between different objects and concepts through communication, interconnection, and convergence.  

Posters designed by Minhye Park 

Titled as K-Lifestyle, the first exhibition in the series opens on Friday, February 23. Under the theme of Korean lifestyle, the exhibition introduces traditional Korean lifestyle practices and household items packaged by the National Folk Museum in Korea and donated to the KCC, called the Korean Culture Box. From the Box, K-Lifestyle displays the following:

1. <Sarangbang Box>: Showcasing the living space of Confucian scholars during the Joseon Dynasty in the 14th-19th century, emphasizing male spaces.

2. <Anbang Box>: Highlighting the hidden living space of women and their most cherished possessions during this restrictive Confucian society in the Joseon Dynasty.

3. <Annyeong Box>: Projecting sample images of Korean lifestyles from the past to the present while providing general information on Korea.

Additionally, K-Lifestyle features Korean intangible cultural heritage objects created by nationally certified artisans from the National Intangible Heritage Center.

                     <Sarangbang Box>                                               <Anbang Box>

The exhibition also features a model of the Moon Jar. This white porcelain was originally produced during the mid-Joseon Dynasty in the 17th and 18th centuries when Confucian scholars began searching for new social values through practical science, aiming to escape the weight of academy-heavy Chinese theories. Characterized as a Korean cultural icon worldwide, the Moon Jar embodies an unpretentious, gentle, and naturalistic approach inherent in Korean culture. It deeply served as artistic inspiration for the prolific Korean painter, the late Kim Hwan-ki. Notably, it was also sold for 6 billion Korean won at the Christie’s auction in New York in 2023.

The cultural traditions and artistic expressions showcased in this exhibition have also inspired contemporary Korean craft artists. Alongside those traditional objects, the exhibition also includes contemporary craftworks by Korean-Canadian artists Chung-Im Kim and Joon-Hee Kim.

Chung-Im Kim

Chung-Im Kim has received accolades 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, the Wollongong Art Gallery in Australia, the Belgian Triennial Contemporary Textile Arts Exposition and the recent traveling exhibitions at the Poikilo Museum in Finland, Tamat Museum in Belgium, Dronninglund Kunstcenter in Denmark, and the Textilmuseum in Germany. Kim's design and execution have been honoured with prizes and awards in many international art competitions. She received her MFA from Seoul Women's University in 1984 and immigrated to Canada in 1990.  Since then, Kim had worked as a freelance designer for many years and also taught at OCAD University in Toronto from 1997 until her retirement in 2021.  She is represented by the Oeno Gallery. In her elegant monochromatic white tapestries, finely detailed patterns swirl around the fabric. Kim’s organic form is inspired by the patterns she sees in nature. The white ink on white fabric provides a subtle texture. By sewing small pieces of industrial felt together that are then pulled taut, Kim creates a web-like 3-D effect. The Korean-Canadian artist’s work is contemporary but it is also rooted in the rich traditions of her Korean homeland.

Chung-Im Kim <Dawn>, 2009, 117*12*10.16cm

Joon Hee Kim

Joon Hee Kim’s work explores the significant perception of existing as a human being while examining and reconciling the diverse identities and heritage of the world, seeking out the compelling forces of beauty and desire. An award-winning ceramist who was an art director in her native South Korea, came to Canada and took patisserie studies at Le Cordon Bleu in Ottawa. However, switching careers, and graduating from Sheridan College, led her to become intrigued with ceramics. As the Cecil Lewis Sculpture Scholarship recipient, she completed a Master’s in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts in the UK. Her compelling ceramic works have been exhibited in the USA, Germany, UK, and they have also been in a solo exhibition at the Clay and Glass Gallery. She examines her heritage through the lenses of multiple influences as she travels to both national and international artist residencies. Following the Banff Clay Revival Residency, she was one of the six artists selected for the Canadian Craft Biennial. Then she attended the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park Residence in Japan, the Ceramic Centre Residency in Berlin, and most recently and prevalently the Archie Bray Foundation Residency. She was a recipient of a large variety of many honourable awards and grants, including the Helen Copeland Memorial Award for 6-consecutive years from the Craft Ontario Council, a considerable amount of grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council, the Best of Student Exhibition from the Toronto Outdoor Fair later flourished in winning the Best of Ceramics, and Best of Craft and Design the ensuing year, as well as being awarded the prestigious Winifred Shantz National Award for an exceptional emerging ceramic artist. Her latest achievement derives from her work being chosen through numerous selections for the Royal Botanical Gardens' International Sculpture Collection in Burlington, Ontario, and great recognition was being selected as the Artist of the Year 2023 by the ITSLIQUID, a communication platform for contemporary art, architecture, design and fashion. Joon Hee Kim was also invited to a group exhibition, <Between Horizens: Korean Ceramic Artists in America> in the Clay Studio, Philadelphia in 2023. 

Joon Hee Kim < Something Divine>, 2023, 56*98*55cm

During the exhibition, visitors can engage in various public events, including artist talks with contemporary craft workshops. 

If you’re interested, register for the following events:

1. K-Lifestyle: Opening Reception and Artist Talk by Ceramist Jun Hee Kim  

    - Date: February 23, 2024 (Friday), 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM

    - Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Korea Cultural Centre

    - Registration: https://forms.gle/ewWYy1Xv5krfmott7

2. Artist Talk by Textile Artist Chung-Im Kim

   - Date: March 15, 2024 (Friday), 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM

   - Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Korea Cultural Center

   - Registration link will be provided later.

3. Traditional Hanok Experience: Create a 3D Hanok Puzzle Workshop

   - Date: March 22, 2024 (Friday), 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM

   - Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Korea Cultural Center

   - Registration link will be provided later.

Korean Cultural Centre Canada

Address: & Contact: 

 - 150 Elgin Street, Unit 101, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1L4, Canada

 - Tel: 1-613-233-8008/ E-mail: canada@korea.kr

Hours: Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 17:00 (Closed 12:00 - 13:00)