Posted by: Lauren Barnes  |  Posted on: November 14th, 2025

Introduction

The Cherry Blossom Project has been generously supported by a grant from the British Korean Society, enabling the acquisition of traditional Korean materials such as Nobang, a distinctive Korean silk organza. This support has been instrumental in advancing the project’s aims and broadening its reach.

Korean silk organza – nobang

Project Aims and Concept

At the heart of the project is the creation of an immersive installation comprising 4,800 pieces of mandus—Korean dumplings—each one naturally dyed and hand stitched. These mandus are strung together to form an array of mobiles, designed to evoke the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms and celebrate the rich cultural heritage from which they originate.

Community Engagement and Workshops

The project’s pilot workshop, held in January, invited members of the public to participate in crafting a mandu mobile. The overwhelming enthusiasm and positive feedback from participants affirmed the project co-ordinator’s confidence in the concept and its objectives. Following the pilot’s success, a public launch took place at the beginning of July, marking a significant milestone in the project’s development.

Talking about the Cherry Blossom project

Participation Process

Participants are invited to register to receive a numbered kit, allowing them to create their own cherry blossom-inspired mandu. These individual creations will collectively fill an indoor gallery space, offering visitors a vivid recreation of the fleeting splendour of cherry blossom season while fostering a connection with a broader cultural tradition. Upon completion of the project, participants have the opportunity to request the return of their mandu mobiles, so they can continue to enjoy them in their own homes.

Cherry blossom kits for participants

Cultural Significance of Mandus

Traditionally, Korean mandus (dumpling strings) are crafted as gifts, often containing a handwritten message of goodwill concealed within one of the dumplings. They may also be used to hold a personal affirmation and displayed by the creator. As part of the project, the co-ordinator will maintain a record of these messages, sharing them during the installation and creating an archive that reflects the hopes and concerns of participants during this period.

International Recognition and Media Coverage

The Cherry Blossom Project has garnered international attention, with participants from 11 countries, including the UK, taking part. The project has been featured in prominent publications such as Embroidery (the Embroiderers Guild magazine) and The Quilter (the Quilters Guild of the British Isles). Notably, a cherry blossom mobile was juried into an exhibition at Lewes Art Wave in East Sussex in June 2025, where it attracted considerable interest.

Progress and Materials

As of this writing, 280 individuals have registered for the project, and completed mobiles are steadily being returned. Since the arrival of the fabric, nearly half has been dyed using a range of plant and animal dyes, including Cochineal, Lac, Madder and Sappanwood. These dyes have produced an array of pink hues, each representing the variety found in different cherry tree blossoms.

Upcoming Installations

The first major installation is scheduled to take place at the Phoenix Arts Space in Brighton from 27 May to 7 June 2026. Following this, the project will be exhibited at the Durham Oriental Museum in Durham in April 2027.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks are extended to the British Korean Society. Without their generous grant, the project’s rapid growth and its ability to reach a wide audience would not have been possible.

  Grants