Smart Kollective x Soonhwa Kang 1 day workshop in Amsterdam
Ink, Breathe, and Gesture:
Sumukhwa - Korean Ink Painting Workshop
About the workshop
Grind the ink. Settle the breath. Then pick up the brush.
In this 3-hour workshop, you are introduced to the brush techniques and sensibilities of Sumokhwa — Korean ink painting — through painting bamboo. Bamboo is one of the Four Noble Ones (四君子) in East Asian art, a classical motif representing summer, resilience, and flexibility. No experience needed. Just curiosity and openness to the process.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
✦ Open with a 1-minute meditation
✦ Learn about the ink stone and ink stick
✦ Grind your own ink — slowly, intentionally
✦ Practice line-making with breath and posture
✦ Paint bamboo: stem → branches → leaves
✦ Compose and complete your final piece
WHAT'S INCLUDED
✦ All brushes (large and small)
✦ Ink stone and ink stick — you grind your own ink
✦ Korean hanji to practice
✦ Korean traditional sweets & tea
✦ A special Korean hanging scroll (족자) — take your finished work home, ready to hang immediately
What is Sumkuhwa
Sumukhwa (수묵화) is the Korean name for ink wash painting — a tradition that originated in China and has been practiced across East Asia for over a thousand years. In Chinese it is called 水墨画 (shuǐmòhuà), in Korean 수묵화 (sumukhwa), and in Japanese 水墨画 (suibokuga) or 墨絵 (sumi-e)— different words, shared roots.
The techniques we practice are the same at heart: black ink on paper, brushstrokes that seek the essence of a subject rather than exact detail, and a meditative quality in every mark.
So why the new name? This workshop is a collaboration with Smart Kollective, an Amsterdam-based organisation that shares Korean culture with the Netherlands. For this occasion, we will be working with ink and an ink stone brought from Korea, and painting on Hanji — traditional Korean paper with a beautiful, warm texture. It felt right to call it by its Korean name.
If you have joined one of my Sumi-e workshops before, you will feel right at home. The brush is the same. The spirit is the same. Only the paper — and the name — has changed.
Practical info
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Time: 3 hours: 13:00 - 16:00
Participants: 12 participants intimate & focused
Language: English
Location: NIO House, Amsterdam, Leidsestraat 32-34, 1017 PB Amsterdam
Standard Ticket: €79 · Early Bird: €70 · Duo Ticket: €144 (€72 p.p.)
GOOD TO KNOW
No art experience needed whatsoever. Wear something you don't mind getting a little ink on — ink stains, and that's part of it. We keep the group small intentionally: 12 people maximum for a calm, focused atmosphere.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancelled 7 or more days before: full refund. Cancelled 4–6 days before: 50% refund. Cancelled 3 days or less before: no refund. Can't make it? Ticket transfers to another person are welcome — just let us know in advance. 12 spots only.
About Soonhwa
Soonhwa Kang is a Korean–Japanese artist based in Haarlem. While studying contemporary art, she encountered ink as a material that deeply resonated with her — and has since continued studying East Asian ink painting traditions across China, Korea, and Japan. Her practice is rooted in learning the histories and subtle differences between these traditions — a way of staying grounded in these artistic lineages. Through her workshops, she creates moments where participants can slow down, experience the rhythm of brush, ink and breath, and connect with the cultural background of these materials in an accessible and meaningful way.
www.soonhwakang.com
https://www.instagram.com/hanatoatelier
https://www.instagram.com/soona_kng
About Smart Kollective
Smart Kollective is a cultural platform creating spaces where East meets West — through workshops, storytelling, and shared experience. Each event is designed around depth, slowness, and genuine connection to material culture.
Bijou Kim, Founder & Lead Producer, Smart Kollective
Leveraging a foundation in corporate communications and extensive experience orchestrating large-scale industrial conferences, sheI founded Smart Kollective with a focus on precision and impact.
She operates as an agile agency, curating specialized, project-based teams to execute high-impact cultural and corporate initiatives. For Korean brands and corporations entering Europe, we transform identity into market-ready experiences, from brand pop-ups and product activations to specialized knowledge forums.
Based in the Netherlands, Bijou blend her native Korean perspective with deep knowledge of the European landscape to ensure not just cultural synergy, but flawless tactical execution. Smart Kollective is the lean, expert-driven gateway to authentic Korean excellence in Europe.
www.smartkollective.com
https://www.instagram.com/smart_kollective