The Korean Cultural Center New York has unveiled the monumental ‘Hangeul Wall: Things I Love to Talk About,’ a significant installation created by the acclaimed artist Kang Ik-joong. This 22-meter high wall, located at the newly opened cultural center on East 32nd Street in Manhattan, features 20,000 colorful blocks of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. The work reflects Kang’s signature style and marks a milestone in both his career and the center's mission to promote Korean culture globally.

The project was a global collaboration, with participants from over 50 countries submitting entries for the installation. From May to June 2024, more than 7,000 submissions were received through a dedicated website, of which 1,000 were selected for inclusion. According to the Korean Cultural Center, the website garnered over 8.2 million visits, highlighting the worldwide interest in the project. The wall includes a variety of themes, with blocks representing concepts such as ‘hometown,’ ‘mother,’ ‘longing,’ and ‘wish’—emphasizing unity and shared human experiences.

Kang Ik-joong, a New York-based artist known for his Hangeul block installations, described the piece as a "wall of hope" that connects people across cultural divides. “Hangeul Wall is not a wall of despair that separates people, but rather a wall of hope that brings together the east, west, north, and south. The blocks contain positive messages that I hope will inspire viewers to reflect on both the past and the future,” Kang said during an interview with The Korea Herald.

The unveiling of the ‘Hangeul Wall’ coincided with the opening of Kang’s retrospective exhibition, titled ‘We are Connected,’ which is also being held at the Korean Cultural Center. This retrospective features some of Kang's most iconic works, including his early piece ‘Throw Everything Together and Add’ from the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. The piece, which has not been publicly displayed for 30 years, showcases Kang's unique approach to mixing traditional materials with contemporary themes.

Another notable installation in the exhibition is ‘1392 Moon Jar,’ a work consisting of 1,392 glazed porcelain moon jars, on loan from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. The number 1,392 is symbolic, representing the founding year of the Joseon Dynasty in Korea, a period renowned for its production of white porcelain. The moon jars are arranged in a circular formation, further emphasizing themes of unity and continuity across time and space.

The Korean Cultural Center New York reopened in June 2024, following 14 years of planning and construction. The center is part of a broader effort by Korea’s Ministry of Culture to promote Korean culture on a global stage. In addition to the Hangeul Wall and Kang's retrospective, the center houses several other cultural institutions, including the Korea Tourism Organization, the Korea Creative Content Agency, and the King Sejong Institute—all of which are dedicated to expanding Korea's cultural footprint worldwide. This is the sixth such center globally, following other locations in Los Angeles, Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing, and Paris.

As part of its mission, the center also fosters educational programs and cultural exchanges, positioning itself as a hub for both locals and visitors to experience and learn about Korea's rich cultural heritage. The collaboration between art, education, and tourism is a testament to the strategic importance of cultural diplomacy in today’s interconnected world.

The ‘We are Connected’ retrospective will run through November 7, 2024. The center itself is closed on Sundays and Mondays but remains open for visitors on other days of the week. With Kang’s work prominently on display, the Korean Cultural Center in New York continues to offer a space for meaningful dialogue through art, further solidifying the growing global presence of Korean culture.

Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com