88 Artists Unite for 'Hanppyeom Bojagi' Exhibition — Works Speak for Themselves

A bojagi exhibition is set to let the works speak entirely for themselves — with artists' names and credentials kept from view.

Gallery Pureunahaneul, a craft-focused exhibition space, announced it will host the second edition of the Hanppyeom Bojagi Exhibition, a special showcase of palm-sized patchwork wrapping cloths, from Monday through Sept. 18.

The exhibition brings together 88 bojagi artists working in South Korea, the United States, Australia, Japan and other countries. Each artist contributes one to two pieces, with more than 130 jogakbo works on display in total.

The Hanppyeom Bojagi Exhibition was conceived to make traditional jogakbo — patchwork cloths sewn together from small fabric scraps — more accessible to the public. While honoring the defining characteristic of jogakbo, in which pieces of fabric are joined one by one through hand-stitching, the show highlights the distinct color palettes, compositions and expressive styles each artist brings to the form.

A standout feature is the anonymous display format. No artist names or biographical information appear in the gallery — only the works themselves. The aim is to direct visitors' attention to the pieces rather than to an artist's reputation or career history.

The sales approach also sets this exhibition apart from typical craft shows. All works are framed and offered at a uniform price, regardless of size or the artist's background. Organizers say the approach lowers the barrier for visitors to appreciate and collect jogakbo without feeling financial pressure.

While rooted in the traditional jogakbo form, each piece incorporates a contemporary sensibility in color and composition, giving visitors a chance to survey a wide range of artistic interpretations in one place.

"Even in a small bojagi no bigger than a palm, every hour and every ounce of care the artist put in is fully present," said Oh Jeong-min, director of Gallery Pureunahaneul. "There is a special beauty unique to jogakbo in the way each tiny scrap of fabric joins the next to become a single work."