OREANDA-NEWS. Miami International Airport continues its effort to display handcrafted artwork from all corners of the globe with Hands of Korea, a diverse collection of tradition-based Korean fiber/textiles in the form of embroidery works, antique and contemporary Bojagi (wrapping cloths), traditional key holders, shoes, pouches, and  traditional and contemporary Norigae (knotted ornaments). The exhibition will be on display through November in MIA's South Terminal Gallery, located on the Fourth Floor mezzanine of Concourse J pre-security.

"Our goal with Hands of Korea is to deepen the appreciation of Korean culture and increase awareness of the richness of Korean arts," said Yolanda Sanchez, Ph.D., Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs Director at MIA and co-curator of the exhibition. "With the exception of Korean ceramics, the full range of Korean art and folk arts is not very well-known in the West, so we are proud to expose our passengers to this unique segment of the art world."

Sanchez cites British art historian Jane Portal, who said, "Korean folk art is unique in that it is an art of all classes of people - the same themes, formats and styles being employed ... for the royal family, aristocrats, merchants and peasants." According to Sanchez, Korean craft culture reflects folk customs and beliefs, and their inherent values continue to be expressed and embedded in contemporary reinterpretations.

Recognized for its innovative design and creativity, Seoul, Korea was named "World Design Capital" by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010. Since then, Korean art has continued to flourish, firmly establishing Korea as a leader in the contemporary art world.

Sanchez, who is also an accomplished painter, was an invited artist at the Suwon-Hwasung International Art Event in Suwon, Korea in 2011. After Sanchez met with artists in Suwon, the seeds were sown for the Hands of Korea exhibition at MIA. She was also an invited artist and lecturer at the 2014 Korea Bojagi Forum held in Jeju Island in Korea. Upon meeting more Korean artists there, plans for Hands of Korea were developed. Sanchez helped to curate the exhibition with Chunghie Lee, a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Among the U.S. states that do not yet have direct passenger flights from Asia, Florida is the busiest for Asian travelers on connecting flights, with more than 700,000 passengers in 2014. As Florida's busiest airport, MIA currently handles weekly cargo flights by Asian carriers Asiana Airlines (Seoul), Korean Air Cargo (Seoul), Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong) and China Airlines (Taipei), and it is pursuing passenger service from the Far East as well.