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The strength of Korean art may be said to rest
in its simplicity and
spontaneity and the architecture of Korea provides an excellent
example
of this. Erected according to the theory of p’ungsu, geomancy,
which
advocated that buildings had to be in harmony with the surrounding
nature,
traditionally made structures never attempted to resist or compete
with their
environment. Instead, the variations in the natural qualities of
the building
material - primarily pinewood - were celebrated and exploited rather
than
disguised. In the same vein, the exterior was introduced into the
interior
by the arrangement of large doors and windows, within which the
outside
landscape was spontaneously framed inducing the feelings of spaciousness,
comfort and serenity.
This talk will focus on Buddhist monastic architecture, addressing
the ways
in which buildings are situated in the landscape and demonstrating
how
natural elements are integrated into their structural aspects. Charlotte
Horlyck is a Research Associate in the Department of Art and Archaeology
at SOAS. She formerly curated the Korean collection at the Victoria
and
Albert Museum. Her research interests include Korean bronze artefacts,
in particular mirrors, Koryoš funerary material and theoretical
issues
relating to the study of material culture. She has authored several
articles
on Korean art and culture and is currently contributing to a Korean
studies
textbook due to be published by Hawaii University Press. She will
lead the
forthcoming Asia House tour of Korea from 10 - 22 September 2006. |
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