The Korea Bojagi Forum, founded in 2012 by Chunghie Lee, is a biennial conference celebrating the Korean tradition of the wrapping cloth as a continuing source of inspiration for contemporary fiber art.
May 27 – 31, 2023, Seoul, South Korea Saturday May 27, 2023 (Saturday) is the Grand Opening of the 2023 Korea Bojagi Forum exhibitions at Citizens’ Gallery in the heart of Seoul. The interesting program of KBF includes workshops, a cultural tour and a conference, continuing until May 31st. This biennial conference brings together artists, textile lovers and scholars from around the world to celebrate the Korean tradition of the wrapping cloth as a continuing source of inspiration for contemporary fiber art. It is an exciting meeting ground for textile lovers, showcasing Korean culture amidst international artworks.
The 2023 KBF takes a look at the origins of bojagi, born out of the necessity of storing, wrapping, covering and repairing worn or torn garments. Those un-named women with their basic sewing skills sought a harmonious aesthetic, transcending the mere solution to the necessity in patching their families’ damaged clothing, that eventually evolved into a cultural aesthetic. Rudimentary, initial bojagi speaks of those no-name women, who have been the makers and seeders of this Korean tradition.
KBF also focuses on the possibilities of bojagi in the design field, contrasting the hand craftsmanship of bojagi and its possible extensions into designed, industrially produced means as an interesting challenge to designers and artists. Distinguished and creative projects by authors are to be presented, as well as the contrast of the unnamed makers of bojagi to prestigious labels. It is in this interstice that artists and designers can present their original, serial or unique, artworks.
KBF will exhibit a wide range of outstanding bojagi-inspired works in fiber or mixed media, in three categories: Interior Non-wearable works, Bojagi-Inspired Wearables, based on Korean traditional Hanbok garments, and “My First Bojagi, a return to original creations founded on necessity. Reinterpretations of this traditional art form test its boundaries and go beyond to unexpected formats.
The workshops include Saeksil Nubi & Basic Bojagi Making,Joomchi (Korean traditional textured paper making), Persimmon Dyeing and Gamchilgil (감침질) combined workshop.
The closing ceremony on Wednesday May 31st will take place at Citizens ́ Gallery and culminate with a gala dinner for participating artists and their guests.
Call For Art
KBF is accepting entries for the 2023 Korea Bojagi Forum’s international juried exhibitions. KBF seeks to exhibit a wide range of outstanding bojagi-inspired works in fiber or mixed media. We seek reinterpretations of this traditional art form that test its boundaries and go beyond to unexpected formats. Accepted entries will be featured in the Forum exhibitions and documented in a full-color catalog.
The 2023 Call to Exhibition is open to all artists 18 years and over working in the field of fiber art. All work submitted must be original, completed in the last five years and not have been previously exhibited in any KBF exhibitions. (Artists who had registered in the cancelled 2020 Call, may submit these works anew.) Works are sought for the following three categories:
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Interior Non-wearable works,
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Bojagi Inspired Wearables, based on Korean traditional Hanbok garments,
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My First Bojagi, a return to original creations founded on necessity.
Size restrictions: are as follows:
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Non-wearable Bojagi: maximum length of 130 cm (51”) and maximum of 60 cm (24″) in width.
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Wearable Bojabi: Human body-size.
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My First Bojagi: maximum size in any direction 25 cm (10”).
Submission fee: $65 US Dlls. for first entry. Additional entries $30 each.
(Students with a valid student card may register only for My First Bojagi exhibition as first entry at a discounted fee of $30 USD, subsequent entries remain at $30 USD per entry.)
To obtain a prospectus and artist application, please email: kbf.hok@gmail.com
Follow the Forum through the Forum Facebook page: Facebook: Korea Bojagi Forum
Catalogs documenting the exhibitions of past Korea Bojagi Forums are available on the To Order page on this website. Each catalog includes international exhibitions of bojagi and joomchi-inspired artworks.
KBF Sponsors
The Korea Bojagi Forum is supported by the Korean Art Society Visit the Korean Art Society website
