Canada
Ottawa
2021
19
English
In a nutshell
The exhibition Hanbok, Poetics of Line and the Passage of Life presents the story of traditional Korean attire, tracing its cultural significance and transformation through time. With a basic style originating in the Three Kingdoms period (37 BCE – 668 CE), the Hanbok shown primarily reflects that of the Joseon dynasty (1392 – 1910). The exhibition explores how this clothing embodies Korean ancestral values, worldview, and reverence for nature through its use in life’s milestone ceremonies and its symbolic colours derived from Yin-Yang theory. Curated by EuiJung McGillis, the presentation showcases items from a baby’s first birthday dress to royal robes, alongside modern reinterpretations by early twentieth-century shinyeoseong (new women). Visitors will discover Hanbok as a transmitter of tradition and a dynamic symbol of Korean identity in a global context.
Why should you watch this?
Hanbok, Poetics of Line and the Passage of Life resonates today because it frames clothing as both a vessel of memory and a mirror of change. The exhibition’s display of the Obangjang durumagi, alive with five elemental colors, reminds us of humanity’s search for balance with nature at a time when sustainability is a global concern. Equally striking are the “new women” who reshaped Hanbok to claim individuality during Korea’s modernization — a gesture that still feels bold and liberating. This exhibition shows that tradition is not fixed but evolving, offering viewers a timeless reflection on identity, resilience, and creativity.
Curators
Euijung McGillis
Bio
Euijung McGillis is an art historian, curator, and lecturer specializing in modern and contemporary Korean art, folk traditions, and transnational artistic practices. Currently pursuing her doctorate at Carleton University, she focuses on the global trajectories of Korean artists such as Lee Ungno and Quac Insik. Her curatorial and academic work, presented at institutions including the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational and CUAG, highlights Korean art in international contexts. McGillis has become a vital voice in making Korean cultural heritage and modern artistic expression more visible within the Canadian and global art scenes.
Ilyoung Jung Piccato
Bio
Ilyoung Jung Piccato is an exhibition designer and visual artist whose career bridges fashion, luxury branding, and cultural projects. Trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, she has worked with global names such as Louis Vuitton, Bloomingdale’s, Celine, and Givenchy before returning to Korea to lead visual strategies at Bluebell Korea. Her design practice merges Korean traditional aesthetics with contemporary presentation, while her art explores the harmony between Canadian nature and Korean heritage. Through her exhibitions and artworks, she fosters new ways of experiencing cultural identity across borders.