'Weaving with Mosi, Connecting with Ssam Sol' Exhibition Runs Until the 30th… Showcasing 4 Artists, 4 Colors of Gyubang Crafts

The Chungnam Provincial Assembly (Chairman Hong Seong-hyun) is holding a Gyubang craft exhibition by the Hansan Mosi Craft Research Group, composed of artisans from the Seocheon area, at the Daum Art Hall of the provincial assembly from the 2nd to the 30th.

The exhibition, titled 'Weaving with Mosi, Connecting with Ssam Sol,' features artists Hwang Kyung-ah, Moon Gil-young, Hong Myung-hee, and Lee Hong-guk, who are presenting traditional Gyubang craftworks imbued with their unique personalities and philosophies. Visitors can admire a variety of handcrafted items made from Hansan Mosi, the traditional textile representing Seocheon, including jogakbo (patchwork), bojagi (wrapping cloths), and bags.

The Hansan Mosi Craft Research Group was formed in 2022 and currently has 10 members. They are learning traditional mosi sewing and Gyubang crafts from Joo Kyung-ja, Korea's first Ssam Sol master. The research group continues to participate in competitions and engage in various creative activities based on traditional techniques, thereby inheriting the practicality and beauty of Korean traditional crafts in a contemporary way.

The participating artists in this exhibition demonstrate a harmony of tradition and modernity through their diverse backgrounds. Moon Gil-young, Hong Myung-hee, and Lee Hong-guk have been steadily working on their pieces for over 10 years, researching traditional Gyubang crafts. Hwang Kyung-ah, leveraging her experience running a hanbok store in Seoul and her major in fashion design, returned to her parents' hometown of Seocheon three years ago and is now dedicated to developing clothing using mosi. In particular, her work of re-dyeing and re-designing outdated mosi clothes into new designs is praised for its blend of practicality and artistry.

The artists participating in the exhibition shared their affection for traditional crafts, stating, "Mosi is art. We cultivate mosi plants, strip them, and shuttle them thousands of times to create a single bolt of mosi. We carefully fold, hem, and stitch along the threads of that precious piece of fabric to weave it into a Ssam Sol masterpiece."

They continued, "We find fulfillment in transforming discarded scraps into jogakbo and various small items, bringing the value of tradition into the present day. We will continue to inherit traditional culture as a practical art form by adding a modern touch to traditional techniques."

An official from the Chungnam Provincial Assembly stated, "We will continue to provide exhibition opportunities for local artists and operate the Daum Art Hall as an open cultural space, enabling citizens to enjoy culture and arts in their daily lives."