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Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jongdeok (right) looks around the 2015 Craft Trend Fair on Dec. 17 at COEX in southern Seoul.

Ceramics and light fixtures that were created using 3-D printers were recently on display at a convention center in southern Seoul.

This year’s Craft Trend Fair, under the theme of “Future in Hands,” showed off the future of Korean crafts and arts. Craftworks, including works of art made with 3-D printers, attracted visitors during the fair’s four-day run from Dec. 17 to 20 at the COEX convention center.

Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen presented clothes made with 3-D printers. Ahn Seong-man, who designs and makes his own 3-D printers for his own artwork, presented some of the ceramics he has made with his printers.

“This fair hopes to present the constantly changing landscape and the future of craftworks, all while presenting traditional aspects of craftworks, too,” said Park Kyoung-rin, curator of the main exhibition at the fair. Park, who got his position after a recommendation from the Korea Arts Management Service, explained the concept and purpose of the main exhibition. “The ‘hands’ in this year’s theme, ‘Future in Hands,’ imply that those are vessels for humans’ warm hearts, as well as creators of artifacts by artists who design and create future life styles.”

During the craft fair, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, a business center was operated for participating artists, hoping to be a bridge for them to reach buyers. There was also a 40-minute guided tour of the exhibit provided three times a day for visitors.

By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Jeon So-hyang (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
icchang@korea.kr

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Minister Kim Jongdeok (right) receives a carved work of art from the Uzbekistan booth at the exhibit on Dec. 17.