Makers & Museums Trip to Korea 2023

15th - 27th October 2023

Flow’s Gallery Director Yvonna Demczynska together with cultural voyager Cathy Giangrande led a group across South Korea to discover the richness and diversity of Korean crafts, past and present. The tour discovered the revered galleries of Seoul and the ceramic village of Icheon, travelled south to the tea fields of Gwangju, the Gangjin Celadons and the Mokpo Marine Relics, and took in the scenic temples and national parks of Gyeongju – to name but a few of the sights. At every corner, they visited internationally acclaimed as well as emerging artists in their studios, receiving talks directly from the makers about their practice. The tour included visits to the key galleries and museums, as well as some lesser known institutions, with specially organised talks by leading Korean curators.

To remember the trip, those who took part in the tour have kindly offered some words and photos about their experiences.

“Yet again, Flow Gallery’s Yvonna Demczynska, and her partner on these tours, the cultural voyager,  Cathy Giangrande, delivered an outstanding and inspirational trip – visits to the most extraordinary craftspeople at work in their studios, museum visits and talks from curators displaying astounding artefacts-  visits the length and breadth of the country peppered with extraordinary dining experiences -sometimes from the sublime ( Michelin star restaurants) to the (not quite ridiculous but verging) - Korean fried chicken meal set in a car museum in Gyeongju ( personally I loved those fries and cheese balls!).   Counterbalancing the cultural history -the blasting music from the night clubs and singing bars in Gwangju – yes I am ashamed to admit I was keen to try those microphones!  The camaraderie of the tour group on bus and train journeys – joyful full of chat and laughter with a good dose of K pop education thrown in courtesy of one of the group.  Truly an insight into the artists and the arts and crafts, the history and culture, and food of South Korea – a relatively young country, given its history, forging its way forwarding with modernism, whilst maintaining its long standing cultural traditions.

 I loved every moment of it ,and the whole experience will stay with me for years to come as a highlight of life experience I am lucky enough to have had.  Truly food for the soul/Seoul.

 Kam-sa-ham-ni-da”

  Ruth Young

“It was such a privilege to meet the amazing South Korean Makers during our recent visit with Yvonna and Cathy. One would never normally have the opportunity to visit their homes and studios. The meticulous planning and insight of the Makers and Museums Tours are truly remarkable”

Margaret Pope

Having returned recently from an action packed trip to Korea, I am still immersed in my photos and memories. Korea is a country of exquisite detail. They of course have had centuries to master this, but having seen relics from the bottom of the Yellow Sea that have been sitting there since the 7th Century, it seems to have been a well kept secret.

The trip was a master plan in organisation. We were ferried around in great comfort to see Master potters, Delicate textiles, Secret museums, Traditional houses, ate in many special eateries trying all sorts of delicacies. And to top it all we were kept amused with tales of Korea past and present, and how the country having overcome so many invasions from its neighbours, is becoming the new power house of Asia. Trip of a Lifetime.

Marlene Mackibbin

Besides visiting in artisans’ studios the Makers & Museums tour had a chance to explore some of South Korea’s outstanding cultural venues.  Among them was the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage located in Mokpo on the west coast of the country.  Over four galleries we learned about the maritime exchanges of the past, through models of shipwrecks and various types of ceramics discovered in the seas of Korea.  Among these were the remains of the Sinan shipwreck, a merchant vessel leaving China in 1323 carrying 25,000 pieces of Chinese export wares, Goryeo celadon and other items including spices consider more valuable than gold.  Wrecked off the coast of Korea near the Sinan islands it was discovered by fisherman in 1975.

Additionally, the conservation scientist, Young-Hwa Jung took us to the conservation facilities to see how ship remains are being conserved prior to display.  Placed in large vats of water to remove the salts, the ship timbers are then impregnated with PEG – polyethylene glycol, a wax-like substance that supports the collapsed cell structure of the wood.  It was an illuminating visit that certainly ignited our imaginations.  

Trip Co-Organiser, Cathy Giangrande