# Korean art

Korean arts include traditions in calligraphy, music, painting and pottery, often marked by the use of natural forms, surface decoration and bold colors or sounds.
The earliest examples of Korean art consist of Stone Age works dating from 3000 BC. These mainly consist of votive sculptures and more recently, petroglyphs, which were rediscovered.
This early period was followed by the art styles of various Korean kingdoms and dynasties. Korean artists sometimes modified Chinese traditions with a native preference for simple elegance, spontaneity, and an appreciation for purity of nature.
The Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) was one of the most prolific periods for a wide range of disciplines, especially pottery.
The Korean art market is concentrated in the Insadong district of Seoul where over 50 small galleries exhibit and occasional fine arts auctions. Galleries are cooperatively run, small and often with curated and finely designed exhibits. In every town there are smaller regional galleries, with local artists showing in traditional and contemporary media. Art galleries usually have a mix of media. Attempts at bringing Western conceptual art into the foreground have usually had their best success outside of Korea in New York, San Francisco, London and Paris.

## History

Professionals have begun to acknowledge and sort through Korea's own unique art culture and important role in not only transmitting Chinese culture, but also assimilating and creating a unique culture of its own. "An art given birth to and developed by a nation is its own art".

### Neolithic era

Humans have occupied the Korean Peninsula from at least c. 50,000 BC. Pottery dated to approximately 7,000 BC has been found. This pottery was made from clay and fired over open or semi-open pits at temperatures around 700 degrees Celsius.
The earliest pottery style, dated to circa 7,000 BC, were flat-bottomed wares (yunggi-mun) were decorated with relief designs, raised horizontal lines and other impressions.
Jeulmun-type pottery, is typically cone-bottomed and incised with a comb-pattern appearing circa 6,000 BC in the archaeological record. This type of pottery is similar to Siberian styles.
Mumun-type pottery emerged approximately 2000 BC and is characterized as large, undecorated pottery, mostly used for cooking and storage.

### Bronze Age

Between 2000 BC and 300 BC bronze items began to be imported and made in Korea. By the seventh century BC, an indigenous bronze culture was established in Korea as evidenced by Korean bronze having a unique percentage of zinc. Items manufactured during this time were weapons such as swords, daggers, and spearheads. Also, ritual items such as mirrors, bells, and rattles were made. These items were buried in dolmens with the cultural elite. Additionally, iron-rich red pots began to be created around circa 6th century. Comma-shaped beads, usually made from nephrite, known as kokkok have also been found in dolmen burials. Kokkok may be carved to imitate bear claws. Another Siberian influence can be seen in rock drawings of animals that display a "life line" in the X-ray style of Siberian art.

### Iron Age

The Korean Iron Age began around the 5th to 4th century BC with the arrival of the Chinese iron culture; it most likely began through the contacts with the North-East Chinese state of Yan and was later developed through the Chinese Lelang Commandery. Koreans have always tried to import Chinese technology and reshaped it in their own in order to make it uniquely Korean and in order to develop new technology. The introduction of Chinese iron culture contributed to the rapid development of ancient Korea. The Koreans then localized the Chinese iron culture into a new form of Korean iron casting technology. By 300 BC, iron was widely used in Korea; however, the Iron culture of Korea continued to be deeply influenced by China which is attested by numerous archeological artifacts. Korean pottery advanced with the introduction of the potters wheel and climbing kiln firing.

### Three Kingdoms

This period began circa 57 BC to 668 AD. Three Korean kingdoms, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla vied for control over the peninsula.

#### Goguryeo

Buddhist missionaries introduced Buddhism to Goguryeo in 372 CE, which then covered the central and southern parts of Manchuria and the northern half of modern-day Korea. As Buddhism infiltrated the culture, Goguryeo kings began commissioning art and architecture dedicated to Buddha.

##### Goguryeo Tomb Murals

A notable aspect of Goguryeo art are tomb murals that vividly depict everyday aspects of life in the Korean ancient kingdom as well as its culture. Goguryeo tomb paintings offer a chronological timeline of everyday life based on when the tomb was constructed and painted. Everyday customs were displayed within the tomb paintings as an attempt to surround the deceased with positive memories of their previous personal lives. Subjects are often depicted alone or spouse, enjoying bountiful nature scenes like Korea’s fields and mountains, and participating in joyous behavior such as dancing and playing. For example, in the Deokheung-li tomb, a mural painting in the front room showcases the master of the tomb surrounded by his servants – a depiction of his prosperous life. The portraits also displayed class-adjacent factors in Korean society of the time by displaying figures as abstractly small or large in accordance with their social position. Abstract designs and fantastical elements are also showcased within Goguryeo tomb paintings. Elaborate ceiling construction led to patterns such as constellations and clouds. Mythical animals were painted within the tombs as they were believed to have the ability to repel demons.
UNESCO designated the Complex of Koguryo Tombs as a World Heritage Site. UNESCO has also put protective measures in place to preserve the tombs and their murals.
Many Goguryeo tomb paintings were created using the methods of Fresco, Tempera, and Hwajangibeop. All methods utilize limestone, but Fresco allows colored paints to survive oxidization and fading for longer periods of time. Researchers were surprised to learn of the use of Fresco in tomb paintings, as they had no previous experience finding this method utilized in the region previously. Black, purple, yellow, blue, green, and brown were common color palettes within Goguryeo tomb murals, as the murals' main purpose was to produce calmness within the tomb and ward away evil spirits. These colors were also common as soot, minerals, and glues were common base elements in paint mixes. Goethite, Hematite, and Cinnabar are examples of common paint mineral powders utilized in Goguryeo mural paintings. Unfortunately, no matter the method, lime layers have eventually fallen from the murals throughout all existing Goguryeo tombs.
Goguryeo painting also inspired the creation of similar works in other parts of East Asia, like Japan. This can be seen in the wall murals of Horyu-ji which show its Goguryeo influence. Mural painting also spread to the other two kingdoms. These murals reveal valuable clues about the Goguryeo kingdom including the importance of Buddhism, its architecture, and the clothing commonly worn at the time. In specific, clothing is well archived through Goguryeo tomb paintings. In paintings where women are performing Goguryeo-era dances, the dancers are wearing long-sleeved dancing apparel. This apparel from the paintings matches textual descriptions of Goguryeo dancewear. Goguryeo tomb paintings exist as tangible evidence of changing cultures via clothing as well. Goguryeo men in tomb paintings are often adorning Po, a traditional overcoat. When comparing the men in these paintings over time, changes in sleeve size can be noticed, indicating that the shape of the Po was changing over the course of time. Chinese influences can be noted in certain tomb mural techniques, characters’ clothing in the paintings, or through displayed Buddhist tradition. Goguryeo tomb murals thus display relationships and cultural exchanges between nearby regions. Lotus flowers, a symbol adjacent with Buddhism, were a common pattern or symbol within Goguryeo tomb paintings.
These murals were also the very beginnings of Korean landscape paintings and portraiture. However, because the tombs were easily accessed, its treasures were looted leaving very few physical artifacts. Tomb raidings additionally opened the seals of the tomb, which were not properly restored, resulting in destructive outside elements, compromised air, and above soil to damage the murals.