MANILA -- The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) eyes diversifying cultural exchange between the Philippines and Korea by mounting a calligraphy exhibit.
Dubbed as "Strokes: Beautiful Korean Calligraphy”, the exhibit will run for free at the KCC Exhibit Hall in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig until February 28.
The exhibit also served as the kick-off activity for the 70th anniversary of the bilateral relations between the two countries this year.
"We chose this as a kick-off event to diversify the cultural exchange between the Philippines and Republic of Korea. Language is one of the main aspects of Korean culture," KCC director Lee Jincheol told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday.
Lee explained that while Korean dramas, movies and K-pop are very popular among Filipinos, KCC would like to highlight the important aspect of all these -- the Korean language.
"We hope that this exhibit will be a good opportunity for Filipinos to discover and appreciate the Korean language," Lee remarked.
Some 50 calligraphy paintings done by 46 artists from the Korean Calligraphy Association are showcased in this exhibit.
These calligraphy works, Lee said, illustrate friendship, family and morality.
"We also have two calligraphy works that mean 'we want to be good friends'," he added.
The KCC official shared that the Korean Calligraphy Association aims to preserve calligraphy, which is a traditional art, down to the next generation.
"Each province in Korea has a branch of the Korean Calligraphy Association, and each branch has projects to maintain the traditional type of Korean calligraphy," Lee said, adding that every year, the association holds the biggest Korean calligraphy exhibit.
Meanwhile, KCC also held a calligraphy workshop for free last January 21 during the exhibit's opening.
Lee said the Center has opened slots to the public who were interested to learn about the Korean calligraphy.
About 40 people, including foreigners, have joined the workshop. They were able to write their names in Korean, as well as other phrases they like.
Lee, however, clarified that they will not be holding another kind of workshop during the duration of the exhibit because the calligraphy artists are all back in South Korea. (PNA)
