Bamboo and Peonies Painted with Mother-of-Pearl... "2nd Mother-of-Pearl Art Exhibition" at Yangju City Hall

Yangju City to hold exhibition at Open Gallery Nov. 2-6
20 works by master artisan Kim Jeongyeol and preservation society members on display

Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Jeong Deok-young), will hold the "2nd Mother-of-Pearl Art Exhibition" from November 2 to 6 at the Open Gallery on the third floor of City Hall. The exhibition will feature 20 works that combine traditional mother-of-pearl lacquerware techniques with elements of modern painting.

Yangju City to Host 2nd Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Art Exhibition. Provided by Yangju City.

The exhibition will include works by master artisan Cheonbong Kim Jeong-yeol, a designated holder of Gyeonggi Province Intangible Cultural Heritage in mother-of-pearl lacquerware, and seven members of the Cheonbong Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware Preservation Society. This is the second exhibition, following the inaugural event in 2024.

A featured work is Kim's "Companionship (Bamboo)." It captures the beauty of bamboo with the iridescent glow and delicate details unique to mother-of-pearl. Other works by Kim, including "Happiness (Peony)" and "Blessing (Grapes)," as well as mother-of-pearl art created by his apprentices, will also be on display.

Mother-of-pearl lacquerware is a traditional craft in which patterns are used to decorate objects with mother-of-pearl made from processed shells. The exhibition will showcase works that use mother-of-pearl techniques and lacquer to depict nature and everyday subjects in a painterly style.

Kim was named Korea's 179th Master Artisan in 1996 and designated a holder of Gyeonggi Province Intangible Cultural Heritage in mother-of-pearl lacquerware in 1998. He continues to create works and train apprentices at the Cheonbong Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware Training Center in Jangheung-myeon, Yangju City.

A Yangju City official said, "This exhibition shows how traditional mother-of-pearl lacquerware can meet a modern sensibility and develop into a new form of art," adding, "We hope many residents will visit the gallery and experience the beautiful light created by mother-of-pearl and the artisans' dedication."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.