뉴욕서 한국 보자기 전시 눈길

 

 

ㅇ   

Newsroh=민지영기자 newsrohny@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

뉴욕에서 보기 드문 한국 보자기 전시행사가 마련돼 관심을 끈다.

 

맨해튼 남단의 클레멘트 문화센터(Clemente Cultural Center)에서 7일 개막, 10월 8일까지 펼쳐지는 ‘코리아 보자기 포럼(Korea Bojagi Forum)이 화제의 행사이다.

 

 

 

 

올해 처음 열리는 이번 전시엔 전문 아티스트들이 출품(出品)한 총 62점의 작품이 선보인다. 주최측은 수세기에 걸쳐 전승된 아름답고도 흥분감을 자아내는 보자기 예술의 진수(眞髓)를 만끽할 수 있을 것으로 기대하고 있다.

 

한 참여작가는 “클레멘트 문화센터는 높은 천정에 클래식하게 실험적인 분위기를 갖춰 작가들이 좋아할 공간이다. 섬세하고 아름다운 한국섬유예술 보자기가 강한 예술적 기운을 가진 로워맨해튼의 갤러리와 어떤 조화를 이루어 낼지 기대된다”는 코멘트를 남겼다.

 

첫날인 7일 리셉션에 이어 9일엔 보자기 만들기 워크샵이 이어졌다. 이번 행사를 후원하는 코리아아트소사이어티(회장 로버트 털리)는 보자기 예술의 진면목을 감상할 수 있는 흔치 않은 기회를 놓치지 말 것을 당부했다. 전시 시간은 매일 오후 3시30분부터 7시까지다.

 

 

 

 

 

* 클레멘트 문화센터

107 Suffolk Street New York, NY 10002(btw Rivington & Delancey)

http://www.theclementecenter.org/

 

 

 

 

 

글로벌웹진 NEWSROH www.newsroh.com

 

<꼬리뉴스>

 

Bojagi Workshop

 

This exhibition will focus on the traditional Korean crafts of bojagi and joomchi. The bojagi is a traditional Korean textile art form that takes the form of a wrapping cloth or tapestry. There are many types of bojagi but the most common type of bojagi is the “min-bo” or “jogak-bo”, which are made of scrap fabrics sewn together by commoners in a manner similar to quilting. Bojagi are designed with themes of health, fertility, longevity, and abundance in mind, and can be found at all levels of Korean society.

 

On the other hand, joomchi is a unique Korean paper-making tradition which makes textured and colored hand-made paper by repeatedly rubbing and agitating hanji (Korean mulberry paper, which is made of mulberry fiber) with water. The result is a paper 6 times stronger than the original hanji which allows it to be sewn into clothing and used in the production of more functional items like wallets, containers, or even military armor.

 

As art forms, bojagi and joomchi have spread from Korea to the rest of the world. There are currently many practicing artists of bojagi who reside in Europe and the Americas. As much as they were influenced by the original Korean purveyors of bojagi, these international artists’ works, in turn, have influenced Korean artists as well, resulting in an organic multi-cultural exchange reminiscent of what The Clemente’s broad-minded, collaborative values. The Clemente has continuously demonstrated its commitment to supporting and promoting alternative voices and fellow minorities. Given the large population of Koreans living all throughout New York City, we believe that our exhibition gives a voice to both traditional Korea and newly evolving, emerging Korean culture. The Clemente represents a perfect platform for us to bring our show to the communities on the Lower East Side.

 

In addition, the subjects of the exhibition are crafts – textiles, sewing, paper-making – which are practiced in almost every society in the world and speak across cultural lines in a universally appreciable manner. Visitors to the exhibition, regardless of their background, will be able to gain new perspectives by comparing and contrasting Korean crafts with their counterparts from their own cultures; the exhibition will allow cultural exchange to take place on a large scale.

 

The theme of the exhibition will be “An Evolving Tradition”. Over centuries, bojagi and joomchi have developed from their original configurations into a variety of forms, sophisticated and beautiful. In particular, contemporary bojagi have evolved to take the form of architectural works, body ornaments, installations, sculptures, wearable art, and much more. The exhibition will feature a number of traditional and contemporary bojagi and joomchi, to give a sense of both the initial traditions and the evolution of these traditions into art forms more recognized by a contemporary audience. Chunghie Lee will be the guest curator of the bojagi pieces and Jiyoung Chung the guest curator for the joomchi pieces.