The Aesthetics of Restraint Over 300 Years: Encountering the 'Old Future' at the Choi Family House in Gyeongju

The theme of this exhibition is ‘Future Heritage - What We Hope to Leave Behind (Heritage for Tomorrow_What we hope to leave behind)’. This question, asking about future heritage in a space that holds past heritage, leads us to explore the language of recovery that is needed today.

Forward-Looking Sustainability, Six Teachings

It is inevitable to talk about sustainability here. The history of the Choi family itself is a textbook on sustainable communities. Their family motto, the Six Teachings, becomes clearer when read in modern language.

‘Do not possess more than ten thousand seok of wealth.’ This is the aesthetics of restraint that recognizes the limits of growth. ‘Ensure that no one within a hundred miles goes hungry’ emphasizes infinite responsibility to the community. Additionally, during famines, they prioritized the stability of the system by not purchasing land from others.

This was not mere charity. By not monopolizing wealth and allowing it to flow, they helped circulate the local economy and enhance the resilience of the entire system. This aligns closely with modern ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) management, which emphasizes social responsibility (S) over maximizing profits. The Choi family has been contemplating the sustainability of the system for hundreds of years.

The Aesthetics of Circulation, Wisdom Without Waste

The crafts displayed in the space inherited from the traditional house quietly resemble this philosophy. Our traditional crafts originally follow a cyclical process of obtaining materials from nature and returning them to nature when their lifespan is over.

A representative example is patchwork. It collects small leftover pieces of fabric from making clothes and carefully stitches them together to create new uses. This is the aesthetics of zero waste, minimizing what is discarded, and showing respect for materials. The attitude of cherishing, repairing, and taking full responsibility for objects reflects a traditional way of life that conforms to the order of nature.

The Structure of Heritage Connecting Past, Present, and Future

This event systematically examines how the wisdom of these traditions develops in modern times. A total of 31 individuals (teams) will participate, showcasing 65 works designed to penetrate the past, present, and future of Korean crafts.

The main exhibition, held from October 27 at the Cheongun Complex Cultural Space, will consist of three parts. Part 1 will feature top experts from various fields presenting the essence of Korean crafts. Part 2 will address collaborations or transmissions between traditional techniques and modern design, showing how tradition is translated into contemporary language.

The most noteworthy part is Part 3. Here, upcycling artisans seeking resource circulation will take center stage.

Rewriting Future Heritage in Today's Language

The works encountered on-site are particularly responses from artisans regarding this third axis, sustainability. Attempts focusing on the waste left by industrialization and consumer society stand out.

A work that reinterprets discarded fabric samples from clothing factories with traditional indigo dyeing into modern screens, and a piece that discovers new value from broken pottery fragments using lacquer techniques are representative examples. Additionally, bags made from recycled fishing nets have transformed from waste into everyday art pieces.

This shows the practical attitude of artisans who consider the entire lifecycle of objects that have fulfilled their purpose. Craft is now expanding beyond aesthetic exploration into practical action.

What is 'Future Heritage'? In the era of climate crisis, what we must pass on to the next generation is not just glamorous objects.

What was confirmed in Gyeongju is not material abundance, but restraint, circulation, and a sense of responsibility towards the community. This event declares that the archetype of Korean sustainability to be presented to the world lies within our traditions. Tradition is not merely artifacts in a museum; it is the oldest future that must function in our current lives.

[Event Information] 2025 Korean Craft Exhibition_Future Heritage

Theme: Future Heritage_What We Hope to Leave Behind

Viewing Information: 10 AM ~ 7 PM (No reservation required, exact times may be re-announced later)

1. Main Exhibition

Duration: October 27, 2025 (Monday) ~ November 30, 2025 (Sunday)

Location: Cheongun Complex Cultural Space

Content: Exhibition of 65 works by a total of 31 individuals (teams). (Part 1: Essence of Crafts, Part 2: Collaboration/Transmission of Tradition and Modernity, Part 3: Upcycled Crafts)

2. Associated Exhibition

Duration: October 27, 2025 (Monday) ~ November 30, 2025 (Sunday)

Location: House of Choi 1779 SHOP Showcase

Content: Showcase of excellent Korean craft works

3. Craft Market

Duration: October 10, 2025 (Friday) ~ October 12, 2025 (Sunday)

Location: House of Choi Cafe East 1779

Contact: Korea Craft and Design Culture Promotion Agency (02-398-7936, 7932)

Website: [https://www.kcdf.or.kr/main