Robert Koehler: Korean Beauty, Kartoniert / Broschiert

Klappentext

There may be countless idioms about beauty in languages around the world, but to actually define beauty and how it is expressed by an entire culture is a formidable task. Fortunately for readers, Korean Beauty: Visual Expressions of a Timeless Spirit approaches the subject with an engaging, deeply enriching account of what has long constituted core elements of Korean beauty, from the philosophical and spiritual currents that run through the concept all the way to the artistic practicality of how this is carried out on a daily basis.

Uniquely Korean Expressions of Beauty

With a mixture of personal stories by someone who has traveled extensively around the country and fascinating insights about an aesthetic heritage developed over thousands of years, long-time Korea commentator and author Robert Koehler takes readers on a memorable trip into a land of breathtaking elegance and refinement that has influenced generation after generation of Koreans and the way they express beauty. As is clearly evident to anyone familiar with the country and its people, this sense of beauty can be generally characterized in terms such as grace, simplicity, rustic charm, and respect for nature. Of course, this ethereal sense of beauty and its functional application to day-to-day living goes far deeper than those broadly defined descriptions.

Beauty in Imperfection

Today, visitors to Korea will be quick to point out the polished beauty of everyday objects that can be purchased at both souvenir stands and high-end galleries, including bowls and plates, chopsticks and spoons, glassware and ceramics, and jokja (hanging scrolls featuring artwork and / or calligraphy) and sansuhwa (landscape paintings). And yet look below the surface and you will notice a uniquely Korean "artless art," an ability to make difficult designs appear easy to create and a tendency to value the perfectly imperfect. This is even apparent in the largest of artistic productions, including Korea's royal edifices like Gyeongbokgung Palace, Buddhist sanctuaries such as Gaesimsa Temple, and the traditional Korean homes (hanok) and their accompanying courtyards (madang) of Bukchon Hanok Village.

A Timeless Odyssey of Art and Beauty

Embark on a magical journey through the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites of Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy and Changdeokgung Palace, marvel at age-old ramie weaving techniques in Hansan and the sublime works of Goryeo celadon from a thousand years ago, and indulge in Korea's distinct palette of "five direction colors" through its obangsaek-no matter where you go within the country, Korea's rich aesthetic is all around you at every step of the way.

Something for Everyone

From the Buddhist and Taoist notion that there is great beauty in emptiness, to the extravagant visual appeal of modern hanbok and Korean accessories and boudoir crafts, to the fascinating method behind how Dansaekhwa monochrome paintings are created, Korea has practiced its own way of celebrating beauty for millennia. For those who have already started learning about Korea through its Hallyu-led movies, music, and television shows, Korean Beauty: Visual Expressions of a Timeless Spirit will only galvanize you to further your learning about the country and its profound, one-of-a-kind aesthetic. And for those just starting their odyssey down the road of Korean beauty, this book will inspire you to see more of the awe-inspiring splendor evident in this 5, 000-year-old nation by experiencing Korea's timeless spirit for yourself.