2~5.11.2023 [Quilt Festival in Korea] COEX, Seoul, South Korea
22 Art quilts from CA, AU, UK & US curated by SAQA
While I didn’t arrange or curate this exhibit, I do have a story to share about the booth design.
The SAQA exhibition Fur, Fangs, Feathers & Fins is curated to celebrate wild animals in their natural environments, showcasing birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles as they go about their natural behaviors. It aims to highlight the beauty and diversity of wildlife while reminding us of the importance of preserving these creatures and their habitats.
When we decided to feature this exceptional exhibit in our festival, I immediately thought that the booth design should convey the message that we all have a role to play in preserving endangered wild animals. It wasn’t just about building a space to display beautiful quilts but about creating an environment that would resonate with our audience and make them reflect on the urgent need for conservation.
The design process was not easy at all. Due to concerns about the stability and safety of the booth, we had to go through several rounds of discussions and modifications. I joked that since the title had alliteration with the letter F, I probably had to plan all the way up to plan F as well.
The final design resembled a small zoo, allowing our audience to see people wandering around the shopping district through the booth walls. This was intentional; I wanted people to gain even a small sense of empathy for how animals, whether trapped in zoo enclosures or living in increasingly destroyed habitats, might view humans who are busily moving about for no apparent reason.
I hope that this booth would become a reflective space where visitors could consider our collective responsibility towards endangered animals, and that this exhibition would inspires our audience to think differently about wildlife conservation.
It was a privilege to present such a distinguished exhibition of selected artists at our festival.
Quilt Festival in Korea (2023)
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