The Language of Craft: A Study of the 2024 Suzhou Exhibition as a Communication Event

Abstract

This paper takes the “language of craft”-the art and craft exchange exhibition between China and Korea in Suzhou in 2024 as the research object, uses the cross-cultural communication theory and the method of exhibition narratology to discuss the exhibition, and analyzes the way of dialogue and the significance of communication. This paper holds that the exhibition is planned in four parts of “the language of heaven, earth, man and craft”, forming a deep dialogue between Chinese and Korean craft culture. Six groups of “dialogue pairs”-dialogue between white porcelain moon jar and Chinese white porcelain aesthetics, dialogue between brass cornerstone and space concept of Ming-style furniture, dialogue between Korean paper and material language of Chinese paper art, dialogue between patchwork and women’s crafts. The dialogue between horse hair craft and the contemporary transformation of traditional Chinese weaving techniques, as well as the dialogue of visual symbols of moire patterns, have been exchanged in an all-round way from technology to culture. The exhibition is no longer a simple exhibition, but through the opening ceremony salon, Korean traditional music experience, non-legacy master studio visits and other activities, the exhibition has changed from “exhibition” to “dialogue”. Therefore, this study holds that the exhibition not only shows the mutual influence and respective development paths of Chinese and Korean crafts in the historical development process, but also finds out the common points of East Asian crafts culture in the context of today’s era-the pursuit of natural harmony, the adherence to the virtues of thrift, and the innovative inheritance of traditional crafts. This form of exhibition is of positive significance for promoting more equal and in-depth international cultural exchanges, and also shows that exhibition is an important way of cross-cultural exchanges.