• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.7
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• pp.7-36
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• 2009

This paper intends to examine the significance of the "Minjoong Misool(People's art)" of the 1980s emerged in Korea in its social, cultural, and art historical context. This paper also aims to provide an analysis of the meaning and form of the individual artist's works, which have been overlooked under the dominant discourse that has emphasized their political role as a collective group. In particular, this paper scrutinizes the work of "Critical Realists" by examining the way in which they perceived Korean society in the early 1980s and visualized their experiences of the period. The figurative art newly emerged in the early 1980s challenged the formalist Modernism, which was adopted into Korea and translated into monochrome paintings and the work of the conversative academicism of the 1970s. The figurative art encouraged a social communication and moreover it intended to criticize the conflicts in the political, economical, and social domains in Korea. The targets of its critique include the unavoidable results of the unprecedented development of economy, various social phenomena of the post-industrial society, and the growth of the commercialized kitsch culture. Along with Shin, Hak-chul's work that incorporates collage technique since the 1980s, the work of some members of "Reality and Utterance" and "Im- sul-nyun" exemplify their critical interests in disclosing the false dream of wealth and happiness by both referring to and drawing on the utopian fantasy manipulated and distributed by mass media and commercial advertisements. This paper pays particular attention to Nouvelle Figuration emerged in France and Europe during the 1960s, which is comparable to the new figurative art emerged in Korea during the 1980s. Nouvelle Figuration criticized the autonomy in art isolated itself from political and social reality after WWII, in particular the indifference of Informel and abstract art as well as American abstract art. Moreover it became rather politicized around May of 1968. Given that French Nouvelle Figuration was introduced in Korea in 1982 and made a significant contribution to the formation of figurative art in Korea, it should be noted that the new figurative art emerged in the 1980s in Korea cannot be categorized merely in relation to People's Art. This paper intends to critically redress the notion that People's art was formed in the particular political, economical, and cultural context of Korea independent of the contemporary artistic practices outside Korea. It will provide a critical examination and analysis of the content and form of the new figurative art, from which People's Art was germinated, in the global context.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.6 s.107
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• pp.68-81
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• 2005

The styles of contemporary landscape design have diversified since the emergence of Postmodernism in landscape architecture. The diversification was mostly influenced by contemporary fine arts and architecture. This study examines the pluralistic development of Postmodern landscape design through the investigation of the influences from those sister arts. In this point of view, the main approaches of Postmodern landscape design are thought to be classified into three categories;'the formal abstract approach', 'the figurative approach' and 'the new picturesque approach'. The first category of the formal abstract approach was formulated with the concepts and vocabulary of Minimal Art and Installation Art. Its representative icons such as 'point grids' and 'stripes', and the main concepts such as the sense of 'flahess', 'expansion' and 'materiality' are mostly thought to be originated from these art forms. The second category of the figurative approach is characterised by the concepts and vocabulary of Pop Art and New Image Paintings. Its representative icons such as 'map' or 'figurative forms' and main concepts like the sense of 'reality', 'context' and 'symbolism' are mostly thought to be originated from these art forms. The third category of the new picturesque approach was formulated with the concepts and vocabulary of Land Art and Late Deconstructive Architecture. Its representative icons such as 'hybrid', 'layer' and 'fold', and the main concepts such as the sense of 'complexity', 'continuity' and 'reversibility' are thought to be originated from these art forms. The research shows that the main stream of contemporary landscape design seems to be gradually moving toward the second and third approach above, in step with the cultural orientation and the dynamism of contemporary urban life. Therefore, the study focused especially on the new picturesque approach which would be in greater need for coping with the hybrid culture today.

• Journal of Science of Art and Design
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• v.8
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• pp.211-239
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• 2005

The purpose of this thesis is to explore a common characteristic of the diverse oriental images mainly from the figurative point of view, and apply it to the contemporary expressions and methods of painting. To do that, I separated the concept of figure into two factors - form and image - and then approached and solved the problems of figure by explaining the two factors respectively. Separating form from image is neither to set two factors against each other nor to isolate any of those values. It is worth dividing the form and the image not only because the image of the oriental painting has a figurative value constituted from an external frame of the form, but also because it has a close connection with the meaning that the form holds inside. These are the reasons why I conceptualize the individual language of form and image. Furthermore, I attempted to investigate how those two factors and mutual relations between them make real figurative images under the principle of harmony and coexistence. The theme of this thesis - the figurative aesthetics and its contemporaneity in the oriental paintings is analyzed based on the understanding of 'figure' within the framework of oriental paintings. A research of image from the figurative point of view is valuable in that it criticizes the past method of thinking, and proposes an alternative formula for new way of thinking. In this regard, I indicated the limit of the theory of form-and-spirit that has been one of the most important conceptual theories . Instead, I' accessed to various aesthetic concepts - that are created in the course of image formulation - from the actual figurative point of view, and then even interpreted it as a figurative value of the oriental paintings and it's application within the specific and practical scope. During the course of research, I explored the conceptual elements of the tradition and the principle of figuration. I expect this study to make a footstone for bringing traditional aesthetics to the contemporary context of oriental painting.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.225-230
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• 2021

As the quality of our life has improved, residential complexes have become more diverse now. Modern residential complexes function as a place for meeting and communication between families and neighbors, including parks, lakes, and promenades, and exhibiting sculptures in residential spaces has become an important component. This study was conducted for the purpose of researching the design development method for the sculptures displayed in the residential space in accordance with these changes and demands of the era. Through the process of visualizing the figurative arts with metal and stone used as materials, the artist's thoughts and messages were put in the sculpture and the arts were completed as the shape of the sculpture that viewers could sympathize with. This design and formative research shows the possibility that various visual elements for sympathy with the creator's thoughts can be formed in a place with the specificity of living space by using a figurative visualization method. Therefore, further researches on figurative art of sculptures are required.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.3
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• pp.9-34
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• 2005

Contemporary Korean art in the 1960s and the 1970s reflects the social and political contexts in Korea from the 5 16 revolution through the Yoo Shin period. This paper investigates whether art has been free from power or not. It examines the power embedded in contemporary Korean art in the 1960s and the 1970s. This paper examines the historical moments of the Korean Art Exhibition, focusing on the complications between the abstract and figurative artworks of the 1960s. One of the significant art exhibitions since the 8 15 liberation of Korea, the Korean Art Exhibition witnessed conflict among Korean artists who wanted to have power in the art world of Korea. Institutional contradiction based on factionalism and conservatism prevailed in the Korean Art Exhibition was attacked by the avant-garde young artists in the 1960s. With the contact of Abstract Expressionism, young artists' generation participated in the The Wall Exhibition. This exhibition challenged and established moral principles and visualized individual expression and creation similar to the Informal movement in the West. In the world of the traditional painting of Korea, the Mook Lim Exhibition of 1960, organized by young artists of traditional painting, advocated the modernization of Soo Mook paintings. Additionally, abstract sculptures in metal engraving were the new trends in the Korean Art Exhibition. In the 1970s, the economic development and establishment of a dictatorial government made the society stiffen. Abstract expression died out and monochrome painting was the most influential in the 1970s. After the exhibition of Five Korean Artists, Five White Colors in the Tokyo Central Art Museum in 1976, monochrome paintings were formally discussed in Korea. 'Flatness' 'physicality of material' 'action' 'post-image' 'post-subjectivity' and 'oriental spirituality' were the critical terms in mentioning the monochrome paintings of the 1970s. 'Korean beauty' was discussed, focusing on the beauty of white which was addressed by not only Yanagi Muneyoshi but also the policy of national rehabilitation under the Yoo Shin government. At this time, the monochrome paintings of the 1970s in Korea, addressing art for art's sake, cutting of communication with the masses, and elitism, came to be authorized.

• Journal of Science of Art and Design
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• v.9
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• pp.49-87
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• 2006

Narrative has broad domains. So it is related to the everything man faces in his daily life and also performed in various modes. Narrative is revealed through all media including a character, which is also applied to plastic art. And narrative objects formed beyond the differences in media aid forms of expression are commonly based on a language. The study on such objects which created a new conceit of narratology can be said to be a spiritual trend by which to understand the world and man from the viewpoint of a 'story'. Plastic art took high interest in narrative in the same period as the rise of postmodernist art in the latter half of the 20th century, which was also applied to sculpture. The researcher, therefore, investigated through the history of sculpture in the 20th century the process in which narrative was denied under the value system of modernism and reappeared with the quickening of postmodernism. And as a result this period could be briefly characterized by 'return to figure' and 'reappearance of narrative'. The is, such flow means that late sculpture converted its center of interest from simple geometric abstract forms to irregular, figurative images. The researcher chose as the subject of his study the work of Louise Bourgeois, who was judged to have performed narrative positively and successfully among a great number of performed narrative positively and successfully among a great number of postmodernist sculptors who adopted it as their own strategy of expression. As the central artist of postmodrnist sculpture, She expressed human desire and condition as sexuality through the introspection of her own personal experience in contrast to the character of pop art sensitive to external world. The researcher borrowed narrative semiotics as a method of analyzing more elaborately the problem about the generation of narrative shown in her works. For it, he selected as the sample work for analysis Bourgeois's , which were judged to contain narrative most abundantly and as the metaphor of a gaze and recollection presented a new woman self that sublimed love, hatred, and loneliness. The narrative in her works are characterized by introspection questioning one's own trauma. It has independent domain and characteristics and clearly reveals narrative and content-centered characteristics, which are commonly discovered in postmodernist sculpture. The researcher could more concretely and definitely understand the characteristics of narrative through figurative images by analyzing the sample work. The researcher wanted to call your attention to the fact that the sculpture in the late 20th century contained narrative commonly and uniformly despite being characterized by various expressions and modes. And the focused on highlighting the fact that the narrative was more effectively revealed through figurative images of human body and simultaneously analyzing the formalizing process and structure for narrative. Besides he wanted to argue that the position of narrative defining the characteristics of sculpture should be valued more justly. Also, such acceptance of narrative, which is discovered in the sculpture, will have to be understood as the characteristics of the period reflecting the cultural aspect of the present time.

• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.8
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• pp.185-215
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• 2009

In Malaysia, figurative painting has increasingly become a means for artists to pose questions about presumptions of power and assumptions of history. The body, its potentially breached boundaries and defenses, forms an integral component of the battle for political influence. The degree of control over one's own and other people's bodies has become a measuring stick to determine the power of potential political leaders. Anxiety about boundaries and access to powerful bodies is intertwined with the questions of who has the right to hold power; the relevance of moral bodies and of what comprises an ideal self or selves. These questions are raised in intriguing ways in contemporary Malaysian art. While eschewing a direct take on current politics, Malaysian artists have increasingly turned to the body to address issues in Malaysian history, culture and the distribution of power. This paper will explore some works by three artists in particular, Wong Hoy Cheong, Nadiah Bamadhaj and Ahmad Fuad Osman use the figure to problematise dominant narratives in Malaysian history. Their work variously challenge political, racial and gender hierarchies and in so doing, reveal them as social constructions.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.622-629
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• 2009

Modern figurative work is designed to have more creativity and characteristic traits by pure thought of the formative ceramic arts. In compliance with the demand which is various the design development could be satisfied an individuality and a taste is become accomplished. In this view, this study looks over expressive aspect of Cubism to present partition as a independent formative ceramic arts is able to contribute emotionally to our whole lives. In this procedure, this work is produced to express a three-dimensional effect and a spatial effect, approaching a figurative side. This is to overcome the limitation of Cubism art expressed in a two-dimensional surface in spite of its multi-dimensional observation of a given object. Accordingly, this study tries approaching pre-understanding of expressive aspect of Cubism which was the important turning-point in 20c art and expansion of the modern ceramic art field before producing the work. This study shows the possibility to become a creative and practical ceramic art work, approaching the new point of view breaking from the established conception. Consequently, the field of ceramic art could be expanded to a part of modern ceramic art as an object of study in art of life.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.538-544
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• 2007

We usually try to accomodate ourselves to our nature surroundings interacting with nature. There fore I've decided to apply nature materials, esp. the pine to Hair Art as a way of expressing our feelings from Nature. 'Hair Art' is a follow-up study based on the various artistic point of view. There has been various works of 'Hair Art' with nature materials. However, it is rare to see a work of 'Hair Art' with the pine. That's why I've decided to study more about this. This study is a new experiment in 'Hair Art' against a conventional idea "Hair Art values practicability." Therefore, the primary goal of this study is to do much for the cause of learning in 'Hair Art' and encourages some development of 'Hair Art' industry. I've researched an image of a pine tree in art of Joseon Dynasty and contemporary art. Then I've tried to apply the image to a work of 'Hair Art'. First of all, in a view of expression technique for the symbolism of the pine, the artists in Joseon Dynasty drew pictures of a pine tree with a paintbrush but the modern artists make a new attempt from the thought of Modernism. We can find it in some photos. Next, to express traditional oriental idea such as 'unconventional and elegance', comtemporary artists chose the symbolism of the pine tree as an object of their works like pen and ink sketches from the thought of Modernism. Third, in a fusion style picture which contains features of both oriental paintings and western paintings and in a sexualism style picture that depicts a harmony of a male and a female as a shape of a pine, we can find colorful images of a pine tree and Their figurative beauty in art. Those are another symbols of the pine. In conclusion, the implication of the pine tree still hasn't changed even there are differences of drawings of pine tree in the past and the present. I've tried to combine these symbolic ideas of the pine with 'Hair Art' and made 5 hair styles. Throughout the process of researching this topic which is 'The Study of Hair Art Using The Symbolism of The Pine', I've realized that pine trees make it possible to express intrinsic tough spirit of human being and abundance in color and figurative beauty in art. I hope this can contribute to the field of 'Hair Art' and would become an important educational resource for further study.

• Journal of Science of Art and Design
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• v.2
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• pp.42-89
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• 2000

Industrial ceramic of Korean industrial design, especially tableware show different characteristics in their forms between 1940s-1960s, and 1970s-1990s. The shift of such changes can be verified objectively by module measurement. The validity of the results applying this method is supported by the investigation of the change of aesthetic modes in Korean society. The most obvious change in the figurative characteristics of tableware is in the outline of their external shapes. 'Module' is used to describe and analyze the changes of such an external shape more strictly as the objective method and measuring the module is employed. This method was developed by the combination of the method analyzing figurative art works by Re Corbuise who uses 'module' with Hambidge's method to describe and analyze the works by means of the golden section. The shift of flgurative changes of tableware could be examined objectively and elaborately by such a newly developed method. The industrialization of tableware production in Korea was begun in 1940s. Then its design was not activated, but as the society has been stabilized through the liberation and civil war, design was settled in 1960s. After that, the design has played the essential roles in 1970s. And as the importance of design in producing goods has been recognized according to the economic growth. The design of tableware shows a remarkable difference based on 1960s and 1970s in such an economic growth. It is resulted from the scientific data analysis of the design since 1940 without any preference. According to the results which analyze the external shapes of tableware for last 50 years, the tableware designs show much differences between 1940s-1960s, and 1970s-1990s. The figurative changes of Korean tableware show the similar trends to the transitional aspects of the society. Design is the manifestation of aesthetic modes which have been developed in a close relationship to society and especially economy. In Korea the development of design was initiated by the economic growth and the Korean aesthetic modes were also changed with the economic growth. The transitional shift of aesthetic modes shown in the figurative characteristics of tableware which are divided on the basis of 1960s and 1970s was peak in 1970s with the development of economy and design started in 1960s.