Last year, UNESCO added the culture of (해녀) haenyeo, the diving women from Jeju, to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A special exhibition is underway to celebrate the first anniversary of that achievement. Kim Minhoe has the details.



Report
Flowers bloom on a (태왁) taewak, a floating device used by (해녀) haenyeo while out working in the water.

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By Oh Geon-il

After holding their breath for what seems like an eternity, the haenyeo surface. They hold tight to their (태왁) taewak and make a (숨비소리) sumbisori - a whistling sound - as they forcefully exhale air from their lungs.

The flowers here come into bloom along with the (숨비소리) sumbisori of the haenyeo.

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By Yoon Sang-hui

The sea flowers that bloom and grow in the face of adversity look pure and faultless.

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‘Blooming Sea Flowers’
Through November 30 at Baramseom Gallery

An art exhibit is currently underway to commemorate the first anniversary of the inclusion of the haenyeo (해녀) culture on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This is “Blooming Sea Flowers.”

INTERVIEW
Gang Gil-soon / Director, Baramseom Gallery
We believe this exhibition about the haenyeo will catch people's eyes. They will hopefully begin to talk naturally about the lives of the haenyeo.
<인터뷰 : 강길순 / 바람섬갤러리 대표 >
"해녀를 알리는 방법이, 이러한 전시를 통해서 시선을 끄는데 성공할 수 있으리라 생각했습니다. 그러면 자연스레 우리 해녀들의 이야기를 풀어 놓으면 좋지 않을까......"

The exhibition has been organized by the local arts circle “Creation (숨) Sum.” About 10 current and former art teachers have 30 works on display.

The subject of the exhibit is the (태왁) taewak, a float that the haenyeo use to rest while out working.

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Exhibit portrays haenyeo’s lives through flowers

The artists have all reinterpreted the (태왁) taewak on their own, presenting the hard lives of the women through beautiful flowers.

A taewak is clothed in silk.

Another is covered in a pure-white knitted pattern.

This one features colorful flowers.

INTERVIEW
Park Jae-hui / Exhibition planner
I hope visitors will see how we have interpreted the lives of the haenyeo with beautiful flowers.
<인터뷰 : 박재희 / 전시 기획자>
"힘들고 억척스러운 삶들이 바다의 아름다운 꽃으로 승화되는 것이 이 전시의 관전포인트 입니다."

The haenyeo take to the ocean without any special tools and hold their breath for two or three minutes to gather abalone, clams, and seaweed.

Their lives are described as pure sea flowers.

[Reporter] Kim Minhoe
[Camera] Park Byeong-joon

The exhibition “Blooming Sea Flowers” is being held through the end of November at (바람섬) the Baramseom Galley.

KCTV, Kim Minhoe