The prestigious Loewe Foundation Craft Prize has brought significant recognition to Korean traditional crafts, with recent winners and finalists gathering to discuss the award's impact on their artistic careers and the broader craft community. The discussion took place during a Design Talk session titled "The Loewe Foundation Craft Prize: Its Role and Objectives" at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Tuesday, as part of Design Miami.In Situ Seoul.
Jeong Da-hye, who became the first Korean artist to win the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize in 2022, shared how the recognition fundamentally transformed her perspective as an artist. "Horsehair craft itself has a long and rich history, but I was not sure if what I was doing truly had value or meaning," Jeong explained during the panel discussion. "Winning the award felt like encouragement to continue, and since then, I've dared to try many new things, with many calls internationally to collaborate." Her award-winning piece, "A Time of Sincerity," is a basket created from intricately woven horsehair that reimagines traditional Korean craftsmanship.
The panel, moderated by curator Cho Hye-young, also featured Jung Myung-taek, an artist and professor at Yeungnam University, and Choi Kee-ryong, an artist and professor at the University of Edinburgh. Both Jung and Choi have been recognized as finalists for the same prestigious craft award in 2022 and 2023, respectively, highlighting Korea's growing prominence in the international craft scene.
Jeong's creative process reveals how contemporary artists can breathe new life into traditional materials and techniques. She described her inspiration for reimagining horsehair craft, which traditionally was used for hats and ornaments during the Joseon era (1392-1910). "One day I went to the National Museum of Korea and saw the pottery exhibition from the era of the Gaya confederacy from the third to sixth centuries," she recalled. "I was fascinated by the pottery works with their simple, yet powerful forms. By borrowing these forms and re-creating them in horsehair, I thought I could convey the solidity I had felt in the material, and that became the basis for some of my works."
The discussion also addressed how the Loewe Craft Prize has transformed perceptions of craft work in the contemporary art world. Choi emphasized the award's role in elevating the status of craft artists and their work. "When asked about the most important contribution of the Loewe Craft Prize, I said it made craft sexy," Choi stated. "With the support of a luxury fashion house like Loewe, the prize created a platform where we can all celebrate together. In response, craftspeople produced outstanding works, contributing to a healthy ecosystem."
During the question-and-answer session, an audience member posed a fundamental question about artistic identity: "What can I make that is something truly Korean?" Jung's response challenged conventional thinking about cultural authenticity in art. "Don't force yourself to struggle with making something Korean," Jung advised. "If you were born and have lived in Korea, telling your own story is already Korean. Borrowing from elsewhere to make it 'Korean' without sincerity won't last in your work." His perspective suggests that authentic cultural expression emerges naturally from an artist's lived experience rather than from deliberate attempts to incorporate traditional elements.
The panel discussion highlighted how international recognition through awards like the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize can provide Korean artists with greater confidence and opportunities while sparking important conversations about the evolution of traditional crafts in contemporary contexts. The event underscored the growing global appreciation for Korean craftsmanship and the innovative ways contemporary artists are preserving and transforming traditional techniques for modern audiences.
