'K-Heritage Art Exhibition' opens at Changdeokgung Palace

The fourth K-Heritage Art Exhibition, showcasing contemporary art within a historic palace setting, opened Tuesday at Changdeokgung Palace.

The Korea Heritage Cultural Foundation announced it is hosting "K-Heritage Art Exhibition: Line of Connection" at Nakseonjae, a UNESCO World Heritage site within Changdeokgung Palace, in collaboration with the Changdeokgung Management Office and social enterprise Savers Korea.

The exhibition is hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration and jointly organized by the Changdeokgung Management Office, the Korea Heritage Cultural Foundation and Savers Korea, with sponsorship from Porsche Korea.

The exhibition moves through three spaces — Nakseonjae, Seokbokheon and Sugangjae — each organized around its own character. Nakseonjae highlights the skills and materials of master craftspeople through traditional crafts including gold foil work, woodworking, lacquerware and embroidery. Seokbokheon presents craft and sculptural works that extend traditional materials and techniques in a contemporary direction. Sugangjae brings together paintings and sculptures by Korean and international contemporary artists, completing the exhibition's arc from traditional craft to modern art.

A total of 48 participants — including traditional craftspeople, intangible heritage practitioners and contemporary artists — contributed more than 160 works. The pieces range from traditional crafts such as gold foil work, woodworking and Tongyeong bamboo blinds to contemporary paintings, installations and photography. Works from different eras are arranged in a unified flow within the restrained hanok spaces. Collaborative pieces created jointly by intangible heritage holders and the exhibition's sponsor using mother-of-pearl inlay, lacquer and gold foil techniques were also unveiled.

The exhibition is co-chaired by Lee Jae-soon, president of the Korea Intangible Heritage Skills Association, and Lee Jang-wook, senior curator at Space K, who participated in selecting artists and shaping the exhibition's structure. Visitors to Changdeokgung Palace may view the works at no additional charge beyond the regular palace admission fee. Guided tours are offered twice daily — at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. — and can be booked on-site.