On "Korea Style"

A friend of mine co-authored a book called "Korea Style" that was recently published so I thought I'd mention it.

Many times, Korea gets lost in the shuffle between China and Japan with no voice that clearly articulates the uniqueness of Korea and its art, architecture, design, music and other cultural areas. I trust that most non-Koreans would be unable to discern a piece of furniture or design that is Korean though may have an idea of something Chinese or Japanese. Maybe, it's all Chinese to all non-Asians.

The opening essay by the architect Clark Llewellyn is an interesting survey of Korean aesthetic history and also introduces the reader to the philosophical underpinnings that permeate Korean design, art and, though it may be a stretch to say, thought in general.

Korea’s sense of aesthetic is rooted in both Confucianism and respect for nature. Confucian ideals are tangible in all aspects of society – piety, simplicity, respect. Llewellyn explains the notion of “Geomancy” as a “method of divination for locating favorable sites as a leading principle of design.” This may be akin to notions of “feng sui” and, in this case, he further expounds that the theory held by Korean “stems from the belief that the earth is the producer of all things” and one must respect and harbor the “energy of the earth.”

While China and Japan share these general notions, the divergence starts here. I recall an article written by the art critic Souren Melikian that described an auction of Asian ceramic pottery. He explained that “Chinese scholarly taste demands technical perfection” while “Korean potters take the reverse stand” by, for example, finding charm in asymmetry or unevenly applied glaze almost to a point that "one can almost feel the touch of the potter’s hand.” While Chinese connoisseurs may find this notion near “damnable” the Koreans would appreciate this “poetic spontaneity” and “natural feel.”

For these reasons, Korean aesthetic allows for untreated wood or plants growing in a natural way. This is in contrast to the sharpness one would fine in, say, a bonsai plant. Llewellyn explains that the “Korean culture discovered aesthetic and moral value within materials exposed to and thus altered by the natural elements.” The Japanese like their Zen gardens or those gardens of perfectly raked sand. What do Koreans like? They like to see grass that is naturally browned in the Winter rather than landscapes that are "manufactured or artificially developed."

Despite a relatively dark time for Korean architecture and design after the War, this books is a celebration of the re-incorporation of traditional Korean values and re-injection of true Korean soul into contemporary art and architecture. I find that I am drawn to Korean contemporary art that reflects these value and will certainly share thoughts on these artists in future posts.

-Pat in Seoul