Byoung Chul Park Illuminates the Fine Art of Korean Calligraphy During Free Public Event
Contact: Sungdae Suh
AllThatStory America LLC
O: 651-262-2293
C: 651-274-8587
Hangeul Party
Byoung Chul Park Illuminates the Fine Art of Korean Calligraphy
During Free Public Event, May 16
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: The fine art of contemporary Korean calligraphy is the focus of a free public event sponsored by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago and AllThatStory America LLC on Saturday, May 16, 2-6 p.m., at Coffman Memorial Union on the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis campus. In addition to an exhibition of calligraphic art by Korean master calligraphist Byoung Chul Park, the event includes the opportunity for each participant to receive their name rendered in calligraphy, lessons and a calligraphy kit for practicing the art, and authentic Korean cuisine. One free round-trip ticket to Seoul will be awarded to the individual chosen for the best calligraphy, who must be present to win.
Korea is often overlooked or misunderstood among the Asian countries, says Sungdae Suh, co-founder of AllThatStory America LLC, based in Eagan, MN, and Seoul, Korea. Our free public events bring together Koreas distinctive culture, traditions and contemporary art to enlighten the curious through hands-on experiences. The Hangeul Party is one of those experiences. Theres much more to contemporary Korean culture than K-POP, Korean film and K-dramas. The event is sponsored by Asiana Airlines, and the Department of Asian Language and Literature at the University of Minnesota.
Who: Hangeul Party with Master Korean calligraphist Byoung Chul Park
When: Saturday, May 16, 2-6 p.m.
Where: Coffman Memorial Union, University of Minnesota-Minneapolis
Cost: Free public event, but RSVP is required by May 6 via www.story-of-korea.com
Korean calligraphy is the Korean tradition of artistic writing in Korean characters (Hangeul).
Hangeul is considered one of the most creative and scientific language inventions in the world, and has been designated a National Treasure in UNESCOs Memory of the World.
King Sejong, the fourth ruler of the Joseon Kingdom, invented Hangeul in 1443 as a phonetic system to educate the people.
The letters are written in syllables, like a syllabic alphabet, and consist of 10 vowels and 14 consonants, allowing it to easily combined to form numerous, syllabic groupings. In the written Korean language, the visual look of every vowel and consonant corresponds with the position of the tongue and the mouth when speaking the sounds. The script includes a circle stroke invented for the [ng] sound. Unlike Western calligraphy, written with a rigid instrument, traditional Korean calligraphy is created with a soft, flexible brush.
Master Korean calligraphist Byoung Chul Park is a handwriting artist who studies the shape of Korean characters (Hangeul). Hes noted around the world for his distinctive Gwanghwamun (huge wording) and for combining his lilting phrases into recognizable shapes that resonate with the human spirit. Full of poetry and whimsy, his work illuminates how a traditional language can be transformed into a contemporary art with global relevance.
The Hangeul Party includes an exhibition of more than 30 of Parks works created over the past 10 years. Participants will also create their own design with Parks guidance. Using their free kit of brush, paper, ink stick and inkstone, participants will practice their interpretation of their name in Korean. One free round-trip ticket to Seoul will be awarded to the individual chosen for the best calligraphy, who must be present to win.
AllThatStory America LLC uses a contemporary lens to provide knowledge and insight into the distinctiveness of Koreas traditions, culture and 5,000-year history. The organization fosters partnerships in order to bring Minnesotans an array of major artworks, classes and programs, says Suh. Minnesotans are a sophisticated and diverse people, so we are eager to present to them new experiences.
The artwork presented by AllThatStory America LLC ranges from scholarly to folk to fine art, and includes works and performances by contemporary artists that highlight how Korean traditions have been revived and reinterpreted.
