Artist jang eung-bok showcases Korean aesthetics through paper umbrella chandeliers

Artist Jang Eung-bok is showcasing 40 years of craftwork at the Seoul Craft Museum in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The exhibition, titled Equinox, highlights how the artist expanded his work from traditional Korean textile designs into furniture, interior objects, and spatial art. The display organizes his career into three distinct sections, including a collection of over 100 patterns and a space dedicated to three-dimensional interior designs. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a new chandelier titled Nanghwa Jiusan Chandelier.

Jang Eung-bok collaborated with Yun Gyu-sang, a paper umbrella craftsman from Jeonbuk, to create the piece. The chandelier features umbrellas turned inside out to reveal their structural ribs, a design inspired by a childhood memory of seeing a vinyl umbrella flip in the wind. The museum also created a healing space called Tapdori, inspired by a traditional Korean folk game where people circle a tower to make wishes.

This area features the chandelier above a round wooden table and uses patterns inspired by the landscapes of Geumgangsan Mountain and the deep blue of the sea. The exhibition runs until March 7 next year.