Art Beyond Language: An Invitation to the 14th Sadaemun International Art Festival

October 21, 2026

Let me lift the curtain on an exhibition that means a great deal to me. From 22 to 31 October 2026, Teresa Durie and I will have our work on show at the 14th Sadaemun International Art Festival in Jeonju, South Korea. We are among 12 international artists invited to exhibit alongside 51 Korean artists. We’ll be joining from afar, but the friendships that brought us here feel wonderfully close.

It began at the Talented Friends Gallery in Caloundra, where Teresa and I met while exhibiting. Gallery Director Robyn Boston created the space that brought us together. Then came Teresa’s invitation from Gallery Director Lee Taek-gu (이택구), to her solo show, Dance of Chromophilia, at Gallery Hanok in Jeonju, held from July to August 2026. Robyn and I travelled to the opening, and an art journey became a shared adventure. We came home with friendships I will always treasure.

Guests and organisers with Teresa Durie and her artworks at Dance of Chromophilia, Gallery Hanok, Jeonju’s Hanok Village, July–August 2026.

Now Teresa’s work returns to Jeonju, this time with mine. Here is a glimpse inside the exhibition catalogue, where different creative worlds meet.

Front cover of the 14th Sadaemun International Art Festival Invitation Exhibition catalogue.

The welcome messages reveal how much this gathering means to its hosts. Chairman Lee Jon-han introduces Jeonju as the royal capital of Later Baekje and the birthplace of the Joseon dynasty, with a thousand-year heritage of arts and traditions.

Lee Won-taeg, Governor of Jeonbuk State, looks towards the exchange ahead:

“We hope that this exhibition, held in Jeonbuk, the land of artistic excellence, will serve as an opportunity to understand diversity through mutual exchange and, furthermore, become a valuable time to promote Jeonbuk's culture, which is at the heart of K-culture”

Cho Ji-Hun, Mayor of Jeonju, offers this invitation to see differently:

“We hope that the creative worlds crafted by over 60 artists, each through their own perspective, will broaden our senses and the realm of thought.”

Kim Hee-soo, Chairman of the Jeonbuk State Council, captures the heart of it:

“art is the most beautiful and powerful language that connects the human mind”

While in Korea, I felt those words come alive. Art and tradition were woven into daily life and shared with a warmth that drew me in. Culture felt like living knowledge, carried in people’s stories, expressed through their art and passed from one generation to the next.

That spirit shines through the work of our warm friend Lee Taek-gu (이택구), Director of the Sadaemun Culture and Arts Center and a highly skilled artist living in Jeonju. His art draws on his cultural village, family and traditions, connecting everyday life with a deep sense of belonging. We are so grateful for his friendship.

A glimpse of Lee Taek-gu’s work from the exhibition catalogue.

And now, a closer look at the works we’re sharing. Our catalogue pages below offer our own perspectives on place, memory and belonging. This is what excites us about art: a colour, a texture or an image can reach someone before a word is spoken. We hope these paintings spark a memory, stir your imagination or open a new way of seeing.