Diplomacy Journal David Kendall 기자 | The Association of Korean Culture Centers is presenting its 31st annual exhibition at Gallery Mirae in Seoul, running from April 15 to 28, 2026. Supported by the Association of Korean Craft Function, this year's showcase takes the form of a "small works exhibition" — featuring 49 pieces spanning traditional painting and craft disciplines.
A Celebration of Human Creativity
Honorary Chairman Song Jun-gyeong framed the exhibition within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, arguing that craft art represents an irreplaceable expression of distinctly human creativity — one that transmits warmth in a rapidly changing world. Honorary Director Kim Yeong-bun echoed this sentiment, praising the intimate scale of the works for their ability to offer audiences deeper personal resonance than large-format pieces.
Association Chairman Lee Geum-deok noted that this year's exhibition is notable for bringing together invited master artists, instructors, and students alike — underscoring the organization's mission of nurturing emerging creative voices alongside established practitioners. Handcrafted items by participating artists add another dimension of accessible craft culture to the event.
Highlights from the Exhibition
The works on display reflect the breadth of Korea's traditional art forms:
Vessels and Branch (40×75cm) by Bae Yeong-gil was done with powder pigment and oriental paint on lacquered paper — a genre rooted in the classic Joseon-era tradition of depicting scholar's objects alongside flowering branches.
Flower Painting — Large Pair (25×28cm) by Park Geu-ne offers a luminous depiction of hibiscus and autumn foliage rendered in traditional pigments on glue-treated paper, exemplifying the delicate botanical painting tradition known as hwahwedo.
Among the paintings are traditional maedeup (knotwork) pieces.
Feast of Knots (40×120cm) by Lee Yong-sim features three horizontal arrangements of elaborate decorative knotwork in black, gold, and dark cord — a form that traces its origins to royal court accessories.
About the Exhibition
The Korean Cultural Federation Exhibition has run for over two decades, with the association dedicated to discovering emerging artists and expanding public engagement with traditional Korean craft. Gallery Mirae can be found on the second floor of the SK Hub building near Anguk Station Exit 5 at Samildae-ro 461.
