Devsisters said the special exhibition "Cookie Run: Kingdom art collab project special exhibition – legacy of the great kingdom" opens on the 23rd at Ara Art Center in Insadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
The special exhibition combines 10 works by traditional craft masters who reinterpret the universe of Devsisters' flagship intellectual property (IP), "Cookie Run: Kingdom," with interactive media art. A Devsisters official said, "By presenting our traditional culture in a modern and familiar way, we plan to offer a special exhibition experience not only to the fandom that loves the Cookie Run IP but also to the general public."
The special exhibition unfolds across six galleries spanning from the first floor above ground to the fourth basement level at Ara Art Center, covering about 860 pyeong of space. The 10 works on display capture the images of "Beast Cookies" and "Ancient Cookies," which form the two pillars of the "Cookie Run: Kingdom" narrative. In collaboration with the media artist collective Nerdy Artist Union, the exhibition presents media art staged to match the theme of each gallery.
From Gallery 1 to Gallery 5, when visitors tag the provided wristbands equipped with near-field communication (NFC) to activate media art interactions, light, images, and sound fill the space and convey each gallery's message in a synesthetic way.
The two spaces "Eoulrim" and "Haewon" in the final Gallery 6 are immersive interactive exhibits, where visitors can see the cookies they draw themselves running through a minhwa alongside other cookies.
An audio guide featuring 13 members of the "Cookie Run: Kingdom" voice cast, including Nam Do-hyeong, Kang Su-jin, Kim Seung-jun, and Jeong Mi-suk, is also provided.
Devsisters will run the on-site experience program "meeting the master" from the 26th to the 30th. In the subsequent "one-day class," visitors can make traditional craft works themselves, such as a hwagak sun catcher and an embroidered handkerchief, under the guidance of a master.
It will also present a variety of Cookie Run goods that capture the sensibility of traditional culture in collaboration with the Korea Crafts and Design Foundation. As exclusive goods for the special exhibition, it prepared various items such as mother-of-pearl key rings, mugs, and postcards, and it also prepared "master special goods" that participating masters in the art collab project produce to order. It will also carry out a large-scale collaboration with domestic "K-goods" companies that have recently been drawing attention. A total of 11 companies, including Mimidal, Permin, and Playback, will participate to sell items such as lucky pouches, mood lamps, and keyboards that creatively express characters from Cookie Run: Kingdom with a traditional culture concept.
A Devsisters official said, "This special exhibition attempts to reinterpret Cookie Run's universe and values through the medium of traditional culture, raise awareness of traditional crafts and their bearers, and diversify the IP's realm in new ways."
The traditional craft works and participating masters presented at this special exhibition are as follows.
▲ Emptiness: sand artist Chae Seung-ung
▲ Resolve: najeonchilgi master Son Dae-hyeon
▲ Destruction: buncheong potter Park Sang-jin
▲ Abundance: Gold Leaf Imprinting Kim Gi-ho
▲ Falsehood: bearer of traditional mask skills Shin Jeong-cheol
▲ Truth: hanji sculptor Park Myeong-ok
▲ Sloth: embroidery master Choi Jeong-in
▲ Passion: hwagak master Lee Jae-man
▲ Silence: nakhwa master Kim Yeong-jo
▲ Freedom: bearer of traditional lantern skills Jeon Yeong-il