by FilmInk Staff
A Special Exhibition Showcasing the Visual Language and Mise-en-scène of Korean Film; Screening & Talk at AGNSW Featuring One of the Designers
The Korean Cultural Centre Australia (Director: Sunmin Yoon, hereafter ‘the Centre’) will present PRODUCTION DESIGN: SCENE ARCHITECTS BUILD ON-SCREEN WORLDS in collaboration with the Korean Film Archive at the Centre’s gallery from 14 August to 31 October. This special exhibition was supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) as part of “Touring K-Arts” project.
The exhibition highlights three leading Korean production designers who have redefined the visual language of Korean cinema: Ryu Seong-hee, known for Decision to Leave (2022) and The Handmaiden (2016); Jo Hwa-sung, designer of Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022); and Han Ah-reum, who designed for Kill Boksoon (2023) and Kingmaker (2022). These designers have received critical acclaim at home and abroad for creating distinctive mise-en-scène that elevates storytelling. Notably, Ryu Seong-hee achieved a milestone as the first Korean production designer to win the Vulcan Award for Technical Artistry at the Cannes Film Festival for her work on The Handmaiden.
Audiences will have the rare opportunity to explore original production materials—early concept sketches, mood boards, set blueprints, and prop designs—that reveal how cinematic worlds are constructed from script to screen. Visitors will gain insight into how visual elements in film shape narrative mood and emotional resonance, experiencing the creative vision of production designers firsthand.
As part of the public program, the KCCAU and the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) will co-host a special event on Saturday, 16th August, at the Domain Theatre, AGNSW.
This event will feature a screening of Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed film The Handmaiden (2016), followed by an in-depth conversation with Production Designer Ryu Seong-hee, who will join curator Ruby Arrowsmith-Todd from the Art Gallery to discuss her artistic practice and creative process.
Ryu, who has recently expanded her creative work through the Netflix original series When Life Gives You Tangerines (2024), will share insights into her celebrated career and her approach to visual storytelling. The program aims to shed light on the crucial role of production design as a narrative language that builds emotional resonance and deepens cinematic storytelling.
Hong-joon Kim, Director of the Korean Film Archive, said, “We are delighted to showcase Korean film production design in Australia at a time when Korean visual content is gaining global recognition, and we hope this exhibition will help further promote Hallyu.”
Dr. Sunmin Yoon, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre AU, stated, “We hope this exhibition will serve as an opportunity to showcase the artistic excellence of Korean cinema, fostering cultural exchange and dialogue between Korea and Australia through visual language and aesthetics. We also look forward to this leading to broader collaborations in film co-productions and cultural content exchange between the two countries.”
