South Korean art, culture show in Delhi

An exhibition of Korean calligraphy, pottery, ink paintings and photographs is on view in Delhi till May 31. Titled “Impressions: A Journey Backwards”, the how displays 31 artworks collected over many years through donations from Korean and Indian artists, as well as from repositories like South Korea’s Goryeo Celadon Museum, formerly known also as the Gangjin Celadon Museum. Goryeo Celadon (or greenware) were ceramics produced in 10th century Korea during the Goryeo Dynasty. Originating in China, they spread to Korea by the 12th century and were considered objects of fine art.

Calligraphy, an act of training and disciplining the mind in Korean culture, was introduced to Korea in the 2nd or 3rd century BC by the Chinese, It was revolutionised during the 19th century by the renowned calligrapher Kim Jeong-hi, who introduced the Chusa Style and has since been considered not only an artistic but also a spiritual activity.

An archetypal form of South Korean art, ink paintings, too, capture the very essence of Korean art. They are simple and succinct and convey deep meanings using just dots and lines. Often without form or structure, the ink paintings emphasise simplicity, spontaneity and self-expression.