The special exhibition 'Wearable Art: Inspiration in Thread'

A national flower symbolizes one nation’s climate and spirit. The national flower of Korea, for instance, the rose of Sharon expresses the spirit of politeness, patience, and strength. During the period of Japanese occupation in the 1930s when the policy of eliminating The rose of Sharon of Korean national flower was enforced, embroidering The rose of Sharon as a shape of Korean peninsula was very popular as a means of cultivating patriotism. Young-Yang Jung’s folding screen of the 1960s expresses a shape of the Korean peninsula with a branch of The rose of Sharon. It showed a wish for the reunification of the Korean peninsula through different colours of blossoms which bloomed in one single branch of The rose of Sharon. In the 21st century Shin Joo-Young’s evening dress radiates beauty through its use of rich The rose of Sharon embroidery. The rose of Sharon was digitally patterned and mechanically embroidered. The rose of Sharon symbolizes our contemporary desire for harmony and natural beauty.