London Craft Week 2026
Tabled: A Contemporary Korean Perspective on the Art of Gathering
During London Craft Week 2026, a quiet yet compelling dialogue unfolded in the heart of Marylebone. Presented by One of a Kind Edition, Tabled brought together six Korean contemporary craft artists and designers whose works explore the relationship between material, ritual, and everyday life.
Staged within the intimate setting of eba Marylebone, the exhibition considered the table not simply as a piece of furniture, but as a cultural and emotional landscape—a place where objects become witnesses to conversation, memory, and shared experience.
At a time when contemporary craft is increasingly valued for its ability to reconnect us with materiality and human touch, Tabled offered a nuanced perspective on the evolving language of Korean craft. The works on view moved fluidly between function and sculpture, tradition and experimentation, revealing practices deeply rooted in making while remaining distinctly contemporary in form and sensibility.
The exhibition featured works by Studio Yeodong Yun, OU Glasswork by Hye Yeon Yoo, Multeo by Yaiji Kim and Sansjun Choi, Kimkim Studio by Jihyun Kim, Yezi Lee, and Limn Seoul by Sooyon Kim. Across metal, glass, ceramic, wood, and textile, each artist demonstrated a unique approach to material exploration, yet together they shared an attention to detail, restraint, and craftsmanship that has become increasingly associated with a new generation of Korean makers.
Rather than presenting objects in isolation, Tabled positioned them within the context for which they were conceived. Vessels, sculptural forms, textiles, and functional pieces existed in conversation with one another, creating a setting that evoked both ceremony and everyday use. The result was less an exhibition of individual works and more a reflection on how objects shape our experience of gathering.
The opening week was marked by a private view and conversation with Hyo Jung Lee, author of Jeong: The Spirit of Korean Craft and Design published by Phaidon.
a book exploring the uniquely Korean concept of emotional connection, affection, and enduring bonds that shape relationships, places, and objects. Bringing together collectors, curators, designers, and members of London’s creative community, the evening expanded the exhibition’s central theme: the role of craft as a carrier of stories, values, and cultural memory. The discussion offered a thoughtful lens through which to view the exhibition, where objects become repositories of care, memory, and human connection.
For Soomin Go, founder and director of One of a Kind Edition, the exhibition represented the beginning of a broader curatorial vision.
“Craft objects hold more than function—they carry traces of the maker, the material, and the culture from which they emerge. With Tabled, I wanted to create a space where these stories could be experienced through the universal act of gathering around a table.”
The launch of One of a Kind Edition arrives at a moment when global interest in Korean culture continues to extend beyond fashion, food, and entertainment into the realms of design and craft. Yet Tabled resisted the language of trend. Instead, it focused on the enduring qualities that define exceptional craftsmanship: patience, material intelligence, and a sensitivity to how objects inhabit daily life.
What emerged was not simply an introduction to Korean contemporary craft, but a meditation on the value of living with thoughtfully made objects. In an increasingly digital world, Tabled offered a reminder that the most meaningful encounters often occur around a shared table, in the presence of objects shaped by human hands.
As the inaugural presentation of One of a Kind Edition, Tabled signals the beginning of an ongoing exploration of contemporary craft as both cultural expression and collectible design—one that places makers, materials, and meaningful narratives at its centre.
