The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) proudly presents Us Within the World: TalkTalk Korea 2024 Award-Winning Works, a new exhibition of 80 selected multimedia entries from the annual global content contest representing creators from nearly 30 countries, on view January 3 – February 21, 2025. The dynamic exhibition kicks off with a public opening celebration featuring two content creators in person at the KCCDC on Friday, January 10 at 6:00 p.m.   The 80 award-winning works—spanning playful reinterpretations of pop culture to intricate descriptions of craft and artistry—navigate contemporary creative ideas under five categories that highlight Korea’s cultural richness and diversity, including Memes and Trends, Arts and Crafts, and Motion Graphics, offering fresh perspectives on what Korea means to people around the world.   Visitors are invited to reflect on how Korea’s cultural narratives resonate and evolve on the international stage, inspiring new conversations about shared creativity and cultural exchange. Each work reflects the story of creator’s unique personal connection to Korea, presenting an array of imaginative expressions.   As a collection, Us Within the World represents a vibrant platform for cross-cultural dialogue where Korea’s unique traditions and modern innovations converge with diverse global interpretations through the lens of international content creators. In bringing together these global voices, Us Within the World celebrates the dynamic interplay between local identity and global perspectives.   TalkTalk Korea is a global content contest launched in 2014 by the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that aims to promote the excellence and uniqueness of Korean culture worldwide while enhancing Korea’s national image. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the contest was held in 2024 under the theme of “Experiencing the Authentic Beauty of Korea.” All award-winning works can also be viewed online at www.talktalkkorea.or.kr.   Us Within the World will remain on view from Friday, January 3, to Friday, February 21, 2025, including a public opening celebration on Friday, January 10 featuring two award-winning creators from the contest in person. For more details visit the KCCDC website at https://washingtondc.korean-culture.org.  

Join us for Experiencing Autumn, a special interactive exhibition and activity space in the galleries of the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C., from October 10 through November 30, 2024! Across three galleries, visitors are invited to explore the beauty of Korean culture through holiday tradition displays, original artwork, and hands-on crafting and fashion experiences, all celebrating the themes of Chuseok and Hangeul Proclamation Day.   The first of three experience galleries showcases the significance of Chuseok, the traditional fall harvest holiday akin to Thanksgiving, with displays of traditional folk crafts and a beautifully arranged authentic Charye table, a centerpiece of Korean homes used for ancestral rites. Also on display are traditional folk crafts and a stunning display of pressed flower art utilizing Korea’s national flower, Mugunghwa. The second gallery celebrates the Korean alphabet Hangeul and its deep cultural significance through board games, name-writing activities, and self-guided cultural workshops allowing participants to appreciate Korean heritage firsthand. The third gallery explores the making of traditional folk crafts such as fans and lanterns, providing a deeper understanding of Korea's rich and practical crafting history.   In keeping with the Korean spirit of autumn, this exhibition will be held in concert with Language, Culture, & Society: A Close Reading of Cho Nam-ju's Novel, "Kim Ji-young, Born 1982" with Professor Immanuel Kim on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 at the KCCDC. As the Korean saying going, 가을은 독서의 계절 – fall is the season for literature.   Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the beauty of Korean culture! Visitors can experience the galleries and self-guided workshops any time during regular KCCDC hours without an RSVP. Groups may also wish to schedule a presentation through the Befriend Korea Program which can coincide with Experiencing Autumn. Exhibition Activities All activities are free to participate in, and to take home in some cases, but supplies may be limited!  Charye Sang: Ancestral Rites Table Learn about and participate in the deep, rich history of Charye, the tradition of honoring family ancestors with an offering of traditional foods. The Charye table is especially important during traditional holidays in Korea, including Chuseok in the fall. National Museum of Korea Coloring Books: “Precious Things We Meet at the Museum” Utilize our vibrant brush pens and markers to bring to life the pages of this incredibly detailed advanced coloring book that richly blends the museum’s collections with playful twists in the style of Korean traditional folk art.  Hanbok: Korean Traditional Fashion Pick you hanbok, style yourself, and pose for an unforgettable, supremely instagrammable photo! Hanbok is traditional Korean clothing, for both men and women—they’re vibrant, iconic, and fabulous. Hangeul Bracelet Crafting Create your own customized bracelet with a rainbow of colored beads, emojis, or a special message in Hangeul, the Korean alphabet! Korean Heritage “Deung” Wish Lantern Paper Craft Kit Craft your very own Wish Lantern, known as deung in Korean, utilizing paper, glue, and your own crafting skills. This kit takes a bit more time but is worth the effort! Tray Inlaid with Mother-of-Pearl Craft Kit Create your very own replica of a classic Korean craft—a tray inlaid with mother-of-pearl that creates stunning iridescent folk culture imagery. Plus additional activities, with more being added! See below for some more things to see and do. 

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) proudly presents Merging Realms: Art Across Boundaries, a new exhibition of sculpture, installation, fashion, and video works by artists Donghun Sung and Dabal Kim that blur the lines between traditional social constructs, on view June 7 – August 9, 2024.  The exhibition opening reception on Friday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m. (RSVP required) coincides with Art Walk Dupont’s local community art event First Friday and will feature a live performance by fellow artists Junghee Oh and Songhee Lee-Chung in collaboration with featured artist Dabal Kim in front of Kim’s new work, Twelve Doors. This central work in the show reinterprets Korean traditional attire from a contemporary perspective. After the performance, there will be an opportunity to engage in conversation with the artists and performers. Artists Donghun Sung and Dabal Kim have collaborated for decades. Their visually compelling works aim to blur the lines between different cultures, media, spaces, and times. By crossing the social and cultural boundaries between tradition and modernity, myth and history, and feminine and masculine, their collective artistic journey reflects their objective of creating a novel visual world—one that blends values and questions modern dichotomies of knowledge. Merging Realms: Art Across Boundaries will remain on view at the KCCDC June 7 through August 9, 2024 during regular visitor hours (M-F, 10 AM-noon & 1-5 PM) 2024 with an opening reception during extended evening hours on Friday, June 7 (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.).  👉RSVP here👈 About the Artists  Donghun Sung explores cross-medium concepts in his sculpted works, often combining various materials that evoke a specific time, place, and set of values. For example, his pieces incorporate iron, representing industrial machinery, alongside wood and ceramics that are reminiscent of traditional Asian crafts. His subjects range from religious and mythical figures to animals, frequently portraying images of Buddha and of deer, symbolizing sacred icons and archetypes of myth across cultures. In this exhibition, Sung features small-scale works that capture this unique artistic essence. Video compilations of his extensive works and interviews provide further insight into his artistic world. Dabal Kim uses clothing as her primary artistic channel. She explores the cultural significance of traditional garments and ornaments, as clothes often represent socially and culturally defined identities such as customs and gender. By patching various elements into a single costume, she transcends these established values. Her works include large-scale costume installations, performances, photography, and video. A common subject in her work is the reinterpretation of traditional Korean clothing, hanbok. In this show Kim disassembles and redesigns sim-eui, a garment worn by the elites of Korea’s ancient Goryeo Dynasty who were heavily influenced by Confucianism, transforming its cultural meanings through a modern perspective. Also featured are some of Kim’s earlier video works. About the Opening Reception Performance Artists Songhee Lee-Chung is a dancer specializing in traditional Korean dance. In 1997, she had her first solo recital “Karma” which was featured in The New York Times. Since then, she has been actively performing around the world and the U.S. at such venues as Flushing Town Hall, Greek National Dance Theater, CID UNESCO World Congress on Dance, NEA Montana Folk Festival, and International Festival at Chihuahua, Mexico. She was also appointed as a member Artist teacher for K-12 public school for “Spotlight Korea” at The Korean Cultural Center New York from 2014. Currently, she is Artistic Director and Choreographer for the Songhee Lee Dance Company and serves as Teaching Artist in traditional Korean dance at Flushing Town Hall. She was QCA Grant Recipient in 2010 and 2014, and awarded QCA New Work Grant in 2022. Junghee Oh, leader of the group G-Hwaja, is a Korean traditional music artist specializing in Gayageum Byeongchang (singing with self-accompaniment on the 12-stringed Gayageum zither) as well as Pansori, the iconic traditional story-telling art performed by a solo vocalist and percussion accompaniment. Ms. Oh is officially recognized in Korea as a holder of intangible cultural property No. 23 in Gayageum Sanjo and Byeongchang. She has performed at major events as a featured performer in Korea and abroad. She had performances in numerous significant musical events and was featured as the main guest in many Korean Cultural events in prominent institutions. She received her master’s degree in Korean music from Chung-Ang University in Seoul Korea. She currently serves as the music director of the music band G-Hwaja and performing artist based in the NY & NJ metropolitan area.

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) proudly presents Imagining Post-Anthropocene, an immersive new exhibition exploring the convergence of humanity, technology, and ecology in a modern society shaped by colonial legacies and rapid technological progress.  Featuring provocative works by Korean artists Yeon Sung and Junha Kim, this second show in the Nature's Echo exhibition series aims to illuminate the fluidity of human and non-human elements of society at the intersection of reality and fantasy. From human beings as environmental metric tools to mechanical body dysmorphia, this exhibition aims to provoke reflections on the evolving nature of humanity’s relationship with a not-so-natural environment.  Imagining Post-Anthropocene launches with a public opening reception and guided tour by artist Yeon Sung on April 16 at 6:00 p.m. and will remain on view at the KCCDC through May 17, 2024, including extended evening hours for the local community event Art Walk Dupont on May 3 (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.).  About the Artists The artistic vision of Yeon Sung is embodied in her featured multimedia installation Weathering Ports. By integrating accessible technology and participatory performances, Sung strives to address colonial dynamics that limit marginalized communities’ access to resources and discourse participation. Her work thus aims to promote inclusivity in data sharing and discourse. Sung draws inspiration from her research into pollution in Europe's largest port, Maasvlakte in Rotterdam, and her installation features video documenting her journey to collect pollution data using a DIY apparatus. The audience is invited to participate in Sung’s data generation by replicating the process, and through such interactions the artist suggests human bodies as a medium for experiencing—and a literal embodiment of—environmental phenomena. For more information on this artist, visit Yeon Sung’s website at https://yeon-sung.com.  Yeon Sung Weathering Ports Performance view (2023, Maasvlakte) Yeon Sung D: D-D-D Guerilla performance (2023, Mapo Air Monitoring Station) Junha Kim's surrealistic animation The Posthuman Hospital delves into the intricacies of the posthuman condition with mesmerizing detail. Inspired by Donna Haraway's Cyborg Manifesto, Kim's work endeavors to dissolve the boundaries between human and machine and between reality and fiction, prompting viewers to reevaluate the essence of identity in an era of profound technological change. Set within a hospital where humans and machines seamlessly interact and intermingle, The Posthuman Hospital presents multiple scenarios that challenge these traditional distinctions. Beyond mere physical attributes, Kim’s work suggests the inevitable overlap of emotion and cultural practices. He achieves his distinctive visual effects by creating three-dimensional scans of everyday objects and overlaying retro Super 8 film effects. Kim utilizes the uncanny valley effect—unease with human-like technology—to provoke viewers' discomfort and contemplation, demonstrating how ordinary objects in extraordinary contexts can blur the lines between human and non-human.  For more information on this artist, visit Junha Kim’s website at https://www.junhakim.com.  Junha Kim The Posthuman Hospital Still images from video (credit: Still from The Posthuman Hospital)

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) is delighted to present Nature's Echo, a new series of exhibitions delving into the intricate relationships between humanity, nature, and technology amidst the global climate crisis. The inaugural show, Beyond the Human-Centric Perspectives, invites visitors to explore diverse artistic lenses that challenge traditional views and offer fresh insights into the natural world, on view at the KCCDC February 29 through April 5, 2024 including extended evening hours for the local community event Art Walk Dupont on March 21 and April 5 (6-8 PM, RSVP below). In this exhibition, three Korean artists employ diverse media to explore this central theme. Hana Yoo delves into the complexities of laboratory rats, wild rats, and machine learning in her video installations, seeking a non-hierarchical system of coexistence between humans and nature. Bo Kim’s archival images of museum specimens challenge conventional narratives of human categorization and modern taxonomy. Hyewoo Shin, through affectionate examinations of plants, presents botanical representations that defy human-centric agendas, offering sincere portrayals of nature's essence. As they navigate the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to embrace these diverse perspectives and rediscover the profound beauty and complexity of the natural world from new vantage points. Embark on a journey of exploration and discovery where the boundaries between human, animal, and machine blur, and new possibilities emerge. Beyond the Human-Centric Perspectives will remain on view at the KCCDC February 29 through April 5, 2024 during regular visitor hours (M-F, 10 AM-noon & 1-5 PM) and during two extended evening showings as part of ArtWalk Dupont on Thursday, March 21, including remarks by artists Bo Kim and Hyewoo Shin, and on Friday, April 5 (6-8 PM both days, RSVP below). Nature’s Echo will also include future 2024 exhibitions at the KCCDC as well as local institutional art collaborations to be announced.  Special Events: ArtWalk Dupont & Artist Talks Third Thursday Thursday, March 21, 6-8 PM Delve deeper into the artists' works and personal stories through in-person talks by Bo Kim and Hyewoo Shin. RSVP required to join the artist talk (below); exhibition open to walk-ins. Program (UPDATED) 6:00 - 6:30 pm | Check-in 6:30 - 7:00 pm | Exhibition Tour (self-guided)  7:00 - 7:30 pm | Artist Talks  7:30 - 7:45 pm | Q&A with the Artists and Curator First Friday Friday, April 5, 6-8 PM Program (UPDATED) 6:00 - 6:30 pm | Check-in        6:30 - 7:30 pm | 7:30 - 8:00 pm | Artist Talk with Hana Yoo        7:30 - 8:00 pm | 7:30 - 8:00 pm | Artist Talk Exhibition Tour (self-guided) RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! About the Artists Bo Kim is an artist, researcher, and educator based in Amherst, MA and Northern Virginia with a background spanning art therapy, oriental painting, and studio arts. Her practice involves meticulously reproducing photographs from museum archives using traditional materials, while scrutinizing elements of documentation that underscore institutionalization. Kim's work has been showcased nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C., and the Korean Cultural Center in New York, NY. She has also participated in artist residencies and received various fellowships, demonstrating her commitment to advancing artistic discourse and exploration.   Bo Kim Red-Headed Woodpeckers/ Chesnut-Collared Longspur (2022) Hana Yoo is an artist and researcher whose primary interest lies in the point where the spectrum of extremes bends into a circle and the two ends meet. Through film and installation, Yoo develops narratives in which dramatically exaggerated anthropomorphism loses its function, hoping that the subject and object dissolve into each other while leaving only the moment of transformation. Women, animals, and representations of the natural environment appear in superficial forms as the protagonists who have long been objectified, exploited, and oppressed. New technological media, institutions, and stereotyped concepts appear as tools or supporting actors that maximize the ambivalence of human perspectives on the environment, revealing the dynamics of power connected therein. Yoo’s previous and ongoing collaborations include IRI THESys (Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), KI-Camp (AI research association organized by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Informatics Society), and the Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior, and Laboratory Animal Science (Freie Universität Berlin). Hana Yoo BareLife (2022) Digital film (still photo of installation) Hyewoo Shin, in her role as a full-time researcher at the Smithsonian Environment Research Center, finds a rich source of inspiration for her artistic endeavors through her daily interactions with plants. By incorporating actual seeds into her creations, she not only adds a tangible dimension to her artwork but also highlights the often-overlooked complexity and diversity of botanical treasures. Shin's exhibitions, which have garnered international attention with notable showcases including in Seoul at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea as well as in the United States, UK, and Australia, serve as a platform for her to share her deep reverence for the natural world with audiences worldwide, fostering a deeper understanding of and connection to the intricate tapestry of the plant world. Hyewoo Shin Seeds of Gymnosperms in Korea (2022)