🐚 From Nature to the Hand: Mother-of-Pearl Upcycling Workshop

In this workshop, we explore the meeting point between Korean mother-of-pearl craft and the Arab world’s pearl heritage, celebrating the shared values of nature, craftsmanship, and care.

Participants will use upcycled materials such as coffee grounds and a handcrafted nacre kit to create delicate ornaments that reflect light, care, and connection.

The norigae is a traditional Korean accessory symbolizing hopes for good fortune, longevity, and happiness – and this workshop invites participants to reinterpret that symbolism through contemporary sustainable practice.

This one-hour session offers a hands-on exploration of slow making, bringing together traditional Korean techniques and sustainable design to form a new sensory dialogue between nature and craft.

🧵 Core Learnings
1. Learn about the philosophy and process behind Korean mother-of-pearl (najeon) craft.
2. Explore how upcycling can transform discarded materials into cultural expression.
3. Create your own Korean norigae ornament using nacre adhesive and specialized tools.
4. Discover the tactile and visual beauty of shell and natural materials.
5. Reflect on sustainability through hands-on creativity.
6. Take home a completed norigae – a work of art that embodies balance, light, and care.
7. All materials are provided in a customized workshop kit.

🎐 Workshop Kit Includes
* Keyring base
* Mother-of-pearl set (various shapes and sizes)
* One triangular tray
* Adhesive for nacre
* Wooden stick & toothpick
* Tweezers and instruction sheet

🌸 Additional Programs on the Same Day
From 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, visitors can explore a mini exhibition featuring Korean traditional art pieces that reinterpret nature and craft through contemporary perspectives.
At 2:30 PM, a curatorial talk will share insights on sustainable art and the collaborative process behind bringing Korean craftsmanship into dialogue with Dubai’s creative scene.
At 3:30 PM, a live demonstration will showcase the making process of traditional Korean painting.

These additional programs (exhibition, talk, and live demonstration) are open to all visitors without registration or participant limits.

No prior experience is required – simply come with an open mind, gentle hands, and appreciation for craft and connection.