The Korea, A Land of Hats exhibit runs until November 30 at the newly located Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The M).
Presented with support from the “Traveling Arts” project of the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC) and Coreana Cosmetics Museum, the specially curated exhibit features around 150 pieces including heritage Korean traditional hats, and modern artworks.
As the creations of Korean National Intangible Cultural Heritage, and other artisans, the hats exhibit both the beauty and the complexity of Korean craftsmanship. These masterpieces provide visitors with their unique stories.
For Koreans, the moja (hat) is more than a mere accessory. It is believed to be directly linked to one’s attitude, spirit, and life beyond serving practical and decorative functions. It was a unique form of clothing culture that reflected the rich Korean history, the occasion, social values and status, and the wearer’s rank. But this exhibit is not just for the eyes, as you can also try wearing the hats and take pictures of the traditional Korean street background for the full Korean cultural experience.
Walking around the exhibit, you’ll be amazed to see the well-known Gat up close, which is famous for its appearance in the Korean zombie series Kingdom. These works of art are created by the Korean National Intangible Cultural Heritage Gannil (Hat Making) artisan Park Chang Young and its certified trainee Park Hyung Park. This simple, yet complex work speaks to the visitors about the mentality of Korean nobles that valued discipline and humility.
The artifacts section located at the center of the exhibition hall boasts accessories and headdresses for women, men, and children predating back in the 19th century to the 20th century.
Other artworks that will surely catch visitors’ eyes are Korean traditional costume dolls of Baehwa Women’s University. It is the first time these dolls are exhibited internationally, and they decided to visit the Philippines. The dolls recreate Korean clothing in different seasons from childhood to adulthood. The bride doll, on the other hand, displays the traditional headdress for weddings in the North Korean region, which shows the glamour of a traditional Korean wedding at that time.
Along with the actual hats, the exhibition also presents specially curated contemporary artworks that are inspired by Korean traditional hats. In the form of painting, photography, books, and installation work, the artworks add a modern twist for the visitors.
The exhibition is available to the public for free until November 30, Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the newly located Metropolitan Museum of Manila in BGC. Guests are advised to wait for the confirmation letter from The M. The visit will be by appointment and opened to a maximum of 20 people, which can be reserved through: https://tinyurl.com/TheM-2022ScheduleYourVisit.