The Cheongju Craft Biennale's touring exhibition has opened in Manchester, England, and runs through January 2027. It is arranged so that European audiences can see for themselves the work the biennale has carried on in Cheongju. The run lasts close to half a year, so travel plans can be set well ahead.
The materials that make up craft each have their own distinct nature. Wood splits along the grain, and lacquer leaves a sheen as it dries. Hanji holds light inside it as layers are added.
Manchester is a city that grew on 19th-century cotton manufacturing. In that city, where mechanical spinning pushed out handwork, objects built by hand are being shown.
Those who want to keep traditional techniques exactly as they learned them and those who want to alter them for today's uses collide within the same exhibition hall. The moment they cross a border, the standing of the objects changes as well. Vessels once used in kitchens and rooms become objects of appreciation behind glass. That movement can revive techniques that were disappearing, and it can also erase the uses the objects originally carried.
The touring exhibition carries that burden through the winter. An event that puts the name Cheongju out front holding on for half a year in a European city becomes a test for regional cultural heritage in itself.
Details including viewing hours, admission fees and the exhibition hall's location are announced by the Cheongju Craft Biennale through its touring exhibition channels. Individual programs may change during the run, so it is better to check before setting out.
Anyone with reason to be in England before the winter ends can set aside half a day. Once January 2027 passes, the exhibition closes.
Event Information
Dates: Opening - January 2027
Venue: Manchester, England
