Najeonchilgi – the art of mother-of-pearl inlay decoration

Objects made with the najeonchilgi technique are lacquered decorative items inlaid with mother-of-pearl. This is a highly meticulous traditional craft that requires exceptional manual dexterity and has been present in Korean art for over 2,000 years.

In South Korea, masters who practice the najeonchilgi technique are recognized as Important Intangible Cultural Heritage bearers, which helps ensure the preservation and transmission of this tradition.

At the Festival of Folk Arts, visitors will have the opportunity to see the essential tools used in najeonchilgi craftsmanship, as well as the different types of mother-of-pearl that serve as the raw materials for this traditional Korean decorative art.

Additionally, visitors can observe master craftsman Lee Jongyoon’s demonstration, where he reveals how patterns are transferred onto carefully prepared mother-of-pearl and then precisely cut by hand.

Participants can also take part in an interactive workshop, where they will have the chance to attach mother-of-pearl motifs to a selected object and complete their unique najeonchilgi creation with lacquer finishing.

 

Calligraphy – the art of beautiful writing, and Muninhwa – the painting style of the literati.

The word „calligraphy” originated from Greek, „kallos” meaning beauty, „graphein” meaning writing. In Korean culture, calligraphy is not solely the practice of the handwriting technique, it also trains and disciplines the mind. While western – and other middle-eastern – calligraphers used goose and other kinds of carved feathers for centuries, the preferred tool of the Far East has always been the brush. 

 

Muninhwa is a unique form of traditional Korean art in which poetry, calligraphy, and painting are harmoniously combined. Historically, this genre was practiced by scholars and aristocrats as a means of expressing their personal thoughts, emotions, and philosophies.

Muninhwa does not merely focus on visual aesthetics — instead, it emphasizes the expression of inner feelings and intellectual contemplation. This makes the art form deeply personal and poetic — a form of self-expression that sheds light on the emotions and reflections behind each brushstroke.

At the Festival of Crafts, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the techniques and philosophy of both calligraphy and muninhwa from Master Lee Sangbae.

 

Dancheong – decorative colouring on wooden buildings

The literal meaning of the word „dancheong” is „red and green”, but of course it means much more than that. This is what they call the style of painting incorporating the five primary colours, with which they decorate buildings, and which has a double protecting role. Firstly, like all kind of paint, it protects wooden houses from environmental factors, such as weather, pests, and rotting. However, the colours of this Korean paint do much more than that, because each of the colours posses a magical, protective properties, which are responsible for driving away harmful spirits, and emphasising the power of the owner over their estate.

 

There are some iconic, representative Dancheong patterns, with symbolic meanings. The lotus flower design represents purity and enlightenment, the peony symbolizes wealth and honor, and the crane signifies longevity.

 In this event, with master Kim Suyeon, participants can create ‘Dancheong Ttakji’ using paper decorated with these traditional Dancheong patterns. While Dancheong is usually found in architecture, this program adapts it for use on paper. Ttakji is a traditional game where players flick folded paper cards to flip their opponent’s card, blending cultural artistry with playful competition.