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#Expanded scope of work, peace of mind #Traditional kite-making techniques, lessons about life #A new adventure in daily life, meeting a variety of people
Through kites I was able to find learning and joy about life—not merely as play or as a traditional kite—and through the process of learning to make kites I realized how to carry out my personal work and developed an attitude of cherishing my work.I wanted to create my own works or expand the scope of my practice by myself, and I encountered the new world of kites.I feel that the world I can depict has become broader and more diverse.
Traditional kite-learning project with artisan Lee Gi-tae / Kim Ji-hye, gap-year participant / 7-week gap year. |
Currently, South Korea is,
Each year 60,000 middle and high school students drop out, 346,000 people in their 20s are just idling because they have no dreams, and the job turnover rate within one year of employment has entered the 40% range,75% of university students are not satisfied with college life, and more than 80% of office workers say they do not feel happy.Although many people tell them to dream, in order to solve this problem that lacks practical methods and support, we want to introduce the ''gap year'' to South Korea as well.
''Gap year (Gapyear)''It refers to a time to either combine studies with work or pause for a while and engage in various activities such as volunteering, traveling, internships, education, or starting a business,a culture encouraged in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and elsewhere as a time to set the direction for moving forward.
#I learned about the gap year and joined it at a time when I wanted a new change in my life.
At first I applied to learn kites, but from the application until the start date I was nervous and restless at night for several days, and finally on April 12 I began the project.
More than simply learning to make kites,I learned about the gap year and joined it at a time when I wanted a new change in my life.
Because I had always been interested in learning craftsmen''s techniques, I carried out the traditional kite-learning project,and it brought about a change in my everyday life rather than abroad.
#Through kites I found learning and joy about life—not merely as play or as a traditional kite.
When I first went to the workshop, the teacher''s works that you see there welcomed me first. The various paintings seemed to live and breathe on the kites, and combined with the hanok (traditional house) space, it looked like a single landscape.
What I liked about making kites was that I could try making a kite myself and that I could paint my work onto that kite. During the classes, I was also grateful that the teacher was very considerate, allowing my daily life and learning to be balanced.
Through kites I was able to find learning and joy about life—not merely as play or as a traditional kite—and through the process of learning to make kites I realized how to carry out my personal work and developed an attitude of cherishing my work.
#Because I met people from various positions, the project stimulated me in many more diverse waysIt made me happy.
During this gap year project there was filming by MBC, so I was able to meet reporters and the production crew, and I also met the teacher''s apprentices and the teacher''s friends—various people.
Under normal circumstances we wouldn''t have been able to meet many of these people; although the encounters weren''t deep, meeting people from diverse positions stimulated me in many different ways during the project, and I was happy.
# The kite-making process
Before we began learning, the teacher spoke about the history of kites and explained in detail the various types of kites, their meanings, and historical records. I also believe that when you learn something it''s helpful to know the background first to understand the meaning of what you''re learning and how to proceed, so I was excited from the start.
Along with the history of kites, seeing the teacher''s past work and interviews and observing how diversely the work is carried out was very surprising. Before learning about kites, I hadn''t imagined that one could travel abroad to fly kites or collaborate on various projects through them, but seeing the teacher''s work taking place in such a colorful world made me increasingly interested.
When learning kites, we started with theory, and from the next class we began making the basic phoenix-stingray kite. Although it looked simple, the teacher said that by working with the stingray kite you learn the basics of kite-making and understand the bending of the spars, which is necessary to move on to the next lesson. So the phoenix-stingray kite was taught at the beginning, middle, and end of the course.
To briefly describe the making process: after attaching the spars, you make holes, weave them with thread, and then attach the tail.
After finishing the stingray kite, in the next class we started making the "bangguhong" (hole) kite. In this class we first learn the process of attaching spars to a kite that already has a drawing on it, but since it was my first time the spars were sometimes attached crookedly, which was a bit upsetting.Still, I comforted myself by thinking, who doesn''t make mistakes when learning? and continued to learn.
I returned home resolved that when you apply glue to hanji, attach it, and weave the spars with thread, the white hanji gradually gets stained and darkened, and because the paper is thin it can tear, so you must always be careful and make it carefully.
The final kite we completed was Admiral Yi Sun-sin''s signal kite, which is said to have been made by Admiral Yi for tactical use, flown in the sky to signal his soldiers. The kite I made was the Sambongsan "lookout" kite, which meant to assemble in the sea in front of Sambongsan.
After learning kites through these various processes, although I couldn''t make a kite with a drawing of my own during class, I became even more determined to make my own kite in the future. I look forward to the day my own kite is born after refining the techniques I learned from the teacher and practicing on my own.
# My recommended place: the Bukchon area!
I didn''t particularly visit any special places, but I used to get off the bus at Jongno and always walk to the kite workshop. (There is also a neighborhood bus.)
Walking around Jongno, Insadong, and Anguk-dong among countless travelers, I also felt like a tourist—browsing instruments at Nakwon Arcade, watching films at Seoul Art Cinema, trying various foods—so you can have an enjoyable day without having to go into any particular place.
# I really enjoyed the feeling of embarking on a new adventure in everyday life.
I wanted to create my own works or expand my practice, and encountering the new world of kites...It feels like the world I can depict has become broader and more diverse.And I hope that in the future I can teach what I learned to my foreign friends and enjoy it together.
Making kites was so much fun that I want to keep making them at home by myself. I thought I would draw my own designs on them and fly them with friends.
And even though the schedule was busier than I expected, throughout the participation period my heart overflowed with ease, and because it wasn''t my neighborhood, walking and sightseeing in Jongno and Insadong and visiting Changdeokgung always excited me. I really enjoyed the feeling of a new adventure in daily life.
# Tips for applicants
You need materials to make kites. The teacher shows the items and explains what is needed and also tells you where to buy them, so don''t prepare them in advance—ask the teacher.
The class isn''t particularly difficult, so just compose yourself and attend the class. The lessons take place in a hanok, which is fine in summer but, due to the nature of hanoks, can be cold in other seasons, so I recommend wearing warm clothes.
My gap year is
Experience★★★★★
You don''t often get the opportunity to make a traditional kite in life, so full marks for the experience.
Learning★★★★★
The instructor guided us well, and I think I learned to make kites at a good pace.
Environment★★★★☆
When we first started, it was spring, so it was a little chilly.
Safety★★★★★
There were no hazards.
Leisure★★★★★
This program made my days happy.
