Coinciding with the celebration of International Women’s Day, until 16 May, the Centro Cultural Coreano (Paseo de la Castellana, 15) presents the exhibition Handicrafts and Korean Women, which celebrates the relationship between Korean women and crafts, with special emphasis on the Joseon dynasty (1392-1897).
The exhibition highlights replicas of pieces from Korea’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, reflecting not only the skill and creativity of women at that time, but also the cultural relevance of their creations in traditional Korean daily life.
Handicraft and Korean Woman pays tribute to the craft of gyubang, a concept deeply rooted in Korean culture. The gyubang (규방) was a space inside the house reserved exclusively for women, where activities such as making clothes, creating decorative items and making objects for personal use were carried out. This in-home workshop allowed women to express their creativity and play a central role in maintaining daily life, which shows the link between crafts and the intimate sphere of women in Korean society.
Through objects such as bags, baskets, combs and embroidered products, visitors will be able to learn how the women of the time not only created functional items, but also shaped symbols of beauty and fortune through their handicrafts. The exhibits are replicas of items that were part of the daily life of the Yangban, the Korean nobility.
The role of women in Korean society, especially during the Joseon dynasty, was marked by distinction of social status but also by a deep connection with crafts as a form of expression and preservation of culture. This exhibition is an opportunity to discover the cultural and craft wealth of Korea, while paying tribute to women who, through their creativity, left a lasting legacy that remains a source of inspiration today.
