EOI-Fundesarte will bring over thirty Spanish artists to the Cheongju Craft Biennale 2023

From September 1st to October 15th, 2023, the 13th edition of the Cheongju Craft Biennale 2023 will take place in South Korea. A gathering of contemporary creations that attracts over 300,000 visitors and allows discovering about 3,000 creators from 60 countries around the world.

The Cheongju Craft Biennale started in 1999 as the world’s first craft biennale and has established itself as a significant event for contemporary crafts over the past 20 years. It is a cultural event that anticipates the sensibilities of contemporary artists and expresses their emotions while maintaining a balance between practicality and the art of craftsmanship.

This year, Spain will be the honoured guest country and will occupy a prominent position with a spacious exhibition space of 730 m², where it will showcase a selection of over 190 creations by 31 artists from all over the country. Under the title “Soul+Matter” a collection of exceptionally high-quality pieces will be presented, allowing attendees to experience the diversity, richness, creativity, and quality of Spanish craft workshops.

Thirty-one artists from various disciplines have been selected to showcase a representation of contemporary Spanish craftsmanship: Mercedes Vicente (textile), Regina Dejiménez (textile), Soledad Santisteban (textile), Adriana Meunié (natural fibers), Idoia Cuesta (textile), Francisco Carrera (textile), Mónica Guilera (natural fibers), Elisabet Urpí and Nacho Umpiérrez from Eliurpi (natural fibers), Benjamín Ramírez from Da Capo Escultura (marble), Jean Briac (marble), Roger Coll (ceramics), Caterina Roma (ceramics), María Oriza (ceramics), Myriam Jiménez (ceramics), Raúl Mouro (ceramics), Rafael Galindo (ceramics), Fernando Garcés (ceramics), Raquel Vidal and Pedro Paz from Canoa Lab (ceramics), Stella Rahola (glass), Sara Sorribes (glass), Ferran Collado (glass), Marc Monzó (jewelry), José Marín (jewelry), Marta Armada (jewelry), Eva Fortuño (jewelry), Toni Porto (wood), Ricardo Tena (metal), Natividad Rodríguez (biomaterial), and Victoria Rabal (paper).

The exhibition presented is a unique opportunity to get to know the work of contemporary Spanish artisan creators, who have managed to create pieces that transcend the purely material and rise to a metaphysical plane of essence and soul. Curator Rubén Torres assures that the selection of works highlights the tension between preservation and change through the inheritance of materials and processes used. The exhibition invites visitors to contemplate a carefully curated selection of works that seek to transcend time while maintaining their essence and original context. It is an exceptional occasion to appreciate the skill and talent of these creators and to reflect on the meaning and value of their work in our current society.

The Spanish participation has been driven by EOI-Fundesarte, which has relied on curator Rubén Torres for the selection of works and artists.

More information about the Biennale here.