The 2016 Craft Trend Fair "has always produced encounters and creations,” said Cho Yoonsun, minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In its 11th year, the fair is a platform where a variety of materials meet craft skills to create works of art, which are then encountered by customers, as the minister said. The fair also brings together domestic and international artists to create new artworks.

The festival opened its doors on Dec. 8 at the COEX Convention Center in southern Seoul on Dec. 8, under the theme, “Heritage to Originality.” This year, craftsmen from a total of 13 countries, including Korea, Finland, Turkey, Australia, Hong Kong and Uzbekistan, will showcase their craftsmanship, which delve into the past, present and future of the art of handicrafts.





The main “Theme Zone” consists of three subtitles: heritage, coexistence and evolution. Among the exhibits, there are craftworks created in a conventional manner out of earth, wood, metal, textile, ceramic and glass. There are also attempts to add modern touches to traditional craft methods. Under the subtitle 'evolution,' works made of exotic and rare materials demonstrate the way in which craft methods have been developed and transformed to create new styles.

The fair is more than just an exhibition. The “Industrial Zone” allows artists and potential buyers to seek business opportunities and one-on-one business counseling programs are on offer. Participating artisans also have a chance to interact with exhibition-goers.



“Craft is something that we want to have around us constantly. It is something that we want to use, and it brings joy to us all," the culture minister said at the opening ceremony. “A distinguishing feature of Korean culture is that there is a ‘continuity’ to Korean traditions. We’ve sustained our common heritage to this day, and Korean and non-Korean elements coexist. Our heritage has continued to expand and evolve at home as well as on the global scene; this is what makes our culture unique," the minister stressed. She continued, “In that sense, I believe that craftsmanship is at the core of the nation’s arts and traditions.”

The fair will be open to visitors until Nov. 11 and entrance fee is KRW 8,000.

By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
jiae5853@korea.kr