Exhibition “Stories clad in Hanbok”

From 31 July, Madrid will host the first solo exhibition in Spain by South Korean digital artist Wooh Nayoung. The exhibition, installed in the Han-ul gallery of the Korean Cultural Centre, will bring together 25 works that explore the dialogue between contemporary popular culture and great universal narratives from a perspective deeply linked to Korean tradition.

The artist's creative universe revolves around identity elements such as hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, and hanji, the delicate handmade paper used for centuries. Through them, iconic characters from literature, cinema and classic tales acquire new readings, appearing in settings where East and West coexist naturally.

Among the highlighted pieces is a singular reinterpretation of Don Quixote, transferred to 17th-century Korea. This adaptation transforms Cervantes' imagery through historical and aesthetic references specific to the Korean peninsula, offering an unprecedented vision of the work.

The exhibition also includes works made in collaboration with Disney and Marvel. Characters such as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man share space with figures such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Alice, integrated into traditional Korean landscapes and formats. Thus, a European tale may unfold in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace or be displayed on a scroll made with silk and hanji.

Educated at Ewha Womans University in Seoul and with experience in the video game industry, Wooh Nayoung has built a career recognised for her ability to reinterpret familiar stories through a unique visual sensibility, where tradition and contemporary culture are in constant dialogue.