Minimalism in Korea is often associated with the term “Dancheong,” which is a traditional Korean decorative painting technique that uses bright colors on wooden structures, such as palaces, temples, and houses. Dancheong dates back to the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC-AD 668) and has been an integral part of Korean architecture and culture for centuries.
In the 20th century, after Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule and the Korean War, there was a shift in the country's economic and cultural landscape. This shift led to a re-examination of traditional Korean culture and aesthetics, which included a renewed interest in the simplicity and minimalism of Dancheong.
In the 1970s and 1980s, a group of Korean artists began to embrace the principles of minimalism in their work, drawing inspiration from the clean lines and simple forms of Dancheong. These artists, who were part of the Dansaekhwa movement, sought to create art that emphasized the beauty of simplicity and emptiness, rather than the ornate and complex.
The Dansaekhwa movement was part of a larger movement in Korea towards modernization and urbanization, as the country underwent rapid economic growth and urbanization in the latter half of the 20th century. The minimalist aesthetics of the movement were seen as a way to reconcile the traditional and the modern, and to create a new form of Korean cultural identity.
Today, minimalist aesthetics continue to be an important part of Korean art, design, and architecture. Many contemporary Korean artists and designers draw on the principles of minimalism to create work that reflects the simplicity and elegance of traditional Korean culture, while also embracing the modern and the global.
댓글