Skip to main content

Production Journal: Lamborghini Countach Kite at the Gwangju Design Biennale

The legendary Countach, successor to Lamborghini's iconic first model Miura, marks its 50th anniversary this year. A car that was truly ahead of its time.

From the early morning meetings—fighting off sleep, jotting down ideas, interpreting across languages—the process of crafting this exhibition piece has been both exhausting and exhilarating. As the artist behind the work, I too was curious: how would this actually come to life? And knowing that it would eventually be displayed at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin, Italy, only added to the pressure.



A Rainy Start, A Resolved Plan

Just as the monsoon season began, I finally found clarity. With official approval from Lamborghini and the Turin Automobile Museum, we solidified our plan:
A full-scale Countach kite, designed by Simone Carena of Motoelastico, co-produced by Glimtory and Motoelastico, and crafted using traditional Korean hanji (paper).
Not as a typical hanji lantern, but rather a hanji kite—infused with symbolic aspiration and flight.



Gwangju Design Biennale – International Pavilion

This work will be a central installation in the International Pavilion of the Gwangju Design Biennale.
The project is a collective effort led by Motoelastico, with contributions from:

  • Simone Carena

  • Kim Hyun-sun

  • Lim Young-taek

  • Shinichi Eco

  • Akama Timotsu

  • Mariella Mengozzi

  • Benedetto Camerana

  • Marcello Gandini

The collaboration captures the futuristic vision of the Countach, reinterpreted through the lens of Korean craftsmanship and design innovation.



The Frame Is Now Complete

The frame is now finished—what remains are painting, pasting, and final coating.
Unlike hanji lanterns, crafting the Countach as a hanji kite was a first. The goal was to capture the bold contours of the car’s exterior while stripping away unnecessary elements for minimalism.

Since the kite will be displayed in an inverted flying position, special attention had to be given to shadows cast by architectural lighting, making the frame construction especially demanding. Still, it has been an exciting challenge.

After finalizing the frame, we took a commemorative photo with the director of Motoelastico—a symbolic moment as we prepare to send the Countach kite to the skies, carrying with it our hopes for its symbolic "Korean flight."



Specs of the Full-Scale Countach Kite

  • Dimensions:

    • Width: 4,462mm

    • Depth: 2,086mm

    • Height: 582mm

  • Materials:

    • Wire frame

    • Multi-layered hanji paper

    • Hanji coating finish

While the simplified design adheres strictly to the blueprints, I can’t help but feel a bit of longing—perhaps we lose something when we follow all the rules too closely. Sometimes, deviation creates beauty.



Ready for Takeoff: Off to Gwangju

The kite is now being carefully packed and shipped to Gwangju by a professional art transport service.
Everything was prepared meticulously and loading went smoothly. They really know what they’re doing.

And so, the Countach kite—crafted with hanji, tradition, and the spirit of innovation—is now on its way to meet the public.

See you at the Gwangju Design Biennale.



Finally, Installation is Complete!

I just received word that the installation has finally been completed.
Meanwhile, I’m feeling a bit dizzy from the vaccine… 

This piece will be exhibited at the Gwangju Design Biennale International Pavilion.
The theme of this year’s International Pavilion is “De-Revolution.”

Shall we take a look at some photos from the exhibition?



It’s truly moving to see the iconic early model of the Lamborghini, the Countach, recreated as a traditional Korean shield kite using our native Hanji paper.



Through the fusion of speed and tradition, this work presents the beauty of heritage in a contemporary form—and I can’t help but feel a deep sense of pride in that.



Popular posts from this blog

Admiral Yi Sun-sin and the Turtle Ship

Admiral Yi Sun-sin, known posthumously as Chungmugong, is celebrated as a national hero who saved Korea from the brink of collapse during the Japanese invasions of the Imjin War. This conflict was an international war in which Joseon and Ming China allied to repel Japan’s invasions. Beginning in the 25th year of King Seonjo’s reign (1592), Japan launched two major invasions of Joseon, the first breaking out in the year of Imjin, hence the name Imjin War . Admiral Yi personally commanded every battle he fought, achieving an unprecedented record of consecutive victories unmatched in world naval history. His strategies are so renowned that they continue to be studied in naval academies in the United States, Britain, Japan, and beyond. So closely linked are Admiral Yi and the turtle ship ( geobukseon ) that one is often invoked in reference to the other. Even today, a turtle ship is displayed near the statue of Admiral Yi at Gwanghwamun in Seoul. Japanese soldiers once called it mekura bu...
Read more

The Golden Axe and the Silver Axe

The Golden Axe and the Silver Axe is one of Aesop’s fables, and it is also known by the title Hermes and the Dishonest Woodcutter . This tale is often staged as a scene in which a mountain spirit appears and presents a golden axe and a silver axe. Long ago, in a remote village deep in the mountains, there lived a kind woodcutter. One day, while chopping wood, his hand slipped and his axe fell into a pond. As he stood there, troubled and distressed, a mountain spirit appeared and asked what had happened. After hearing the story, the spirit rewarded the honest woodcutter by giving him both a golden axe and a silver axe as gifts. When a wicked woodcutter heard the news, he came to the same pond and deliberately dropped his own axe into the water. When the mountain spirit appeared again, the wicked woodcutter lied. In the end, he could not even get back his iron axe.
Read more

Traditional Hanji Lantern Inspired by a Korean Folktale - Granny Red Bean Porridge and the Tiger

This year’s lantern is a traditional Hanji lantern inspired by one of the most beloved Korean folktales among children: Granny Red Bean Porridge and the Tiger . Once upon a time, deep in the mountains, there lived an old woman who cultivated red beans. She was so skilled at making red bean porridge that people called her “Granny Red Bean Porridge.” One peaceful day, a tiger the size of a house suddenly appeared and threatened to eat her. Granny pleaded, “I don’t mind dying, but if I do, who will make this delicious porridge? Come back in the snowy winter. You can enjoy the porridge then—and eat me if you still want to.” She barely managed to persuade the tiger to leave. Left with no one to turn to, the old woman wept alone. Just then, the items in her home—her carrying frame, a straw mat, an awl, some dung, an egg, and even a softshell turtle—gathered around and told her not to worry. When winter came and the tiger returned on the day of the winter solstice, Granny and her loyal “fri...
Read more