The Path that Remains: Craft Exhibition at Seoul Museum of Craft Art

Introducing the exhibition The Path that Remains. Walking along Yulgok-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, passersby encounter a quiet, unfolding scene visible through the glass facade of the Seoul Museum of Craft Art’s Showwindow Gallery. Across a soft road shaped from delicate cloth and thread, small animals sculpted from clay march in gentle procession toward an unknown destination.

Presented in this open streetscape setting is The Path that Remains (사라진 뒤에도 이어지는 길), a collaborative presentation by artists Kim Aya and Kim Yeseul organized as the fifth installment of the ‘Craft Accompany@Showwindow’ project by the Seoul Museum of Craft Art and the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture Sindang Creative Arcade. Without needing to pass through museum ticket halls or doors, anyone strolling along the sidewalk can encounter contemporary craft seamlessly embedded in everyday life.

The Path that Remains Visitor Information

This exhibition takes its departure from traditional Korean funerary culture, specifically the kkot-sangyeo (flower bier) used to send off the departed, and the kokdu (wooden guide figures) that historically decorated those biers. The two artists do not perceive death as an abrupt severance from life. Instead, they interpret it as a continuous transition toward another realm and the beginning of a new journey.

Artist Kim Aya layers wool felt, fine translucent organza silk (nobang), and Korean mulberry paper (hanji) to evoke rolling terrain, soft knolls, and meandering paths. Positioned across this delicate landscape are ceramic animals hand-sculpted and fired by artist Kim Yeseul, including horses, roosters, carp, giraffes, and cranes. Bringing together two distinct craft mediums, the installation visually unfolds a prolonged narrative encompassing departure, migration, dissolution, and reconstitution.

Following the Artworks’ Journey Through the Glass

When taking in the exhibition, the most striking element is how disparate materials—light, translucent textiles and solid, grounded ceramics—harmonize into a singular scene. Observing how these two entirely different physical textures support one another without competition forms the first key viewing point.

In addition, it is fascinating to discover how the traditional symbolism of kokdu, which historically guided souls along their journey, has been translated into the contemporary visual language of modern craft artists. Traditional Korean sensibilities converge with modern materials and sculptural forms, unfolding anew within the illuminated window.

The primary advantage of the Showwindow Gallery is that visitors can fully experience the artworks from outside. Pausing briefly during a stroll through Jongno and quietly tracing through the glass the journey of these animal figures as they travel onward offers a contemplative and rewarding encounter.

When and Where to Experience the Exhibition

Here is the practical visitor information for this easily accessible presentation on the streets of Jongno. The gallery is open to the public without reservations or admission fees.

• Exhibition Title: The Path that Remains (사라진 뒤에도 이어지는 길)
• Participating Artists: Kim Aya, Kim Yeseul
• Exhibition Period: September 9, 2026 – October 11, 2026
• Venue: Seoul Museum of Craft Art, Exhibition Building 3, 1st Floor Showwindow Gallery (4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
• Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed every Monday)
• Admission: Free

For more exhibition coverage published on this site, explore our guides to Bonjour, Jean-Jacques Sempé: The World in Lines and Still, Now, and Always.

Official Sources and Further Information

For official curatorial introductions and additional visitor guidelines regarding museum facilities, please visit the official museum link below:

• Seoul Museum of Craft Art: 《The Path that Remains》 Exhibition Guide

Please reconfirm opening hours and museum schedules on the official website before visiting The Path that Remains.