1. KOREAN ART

2.  Korean art is art originating or practiced in Korea or
by Korean artists, from ancient times to today. Korea is
noted for its artistic traditions in pottery, music,
calligraphy, and other genres, often marked by the use of
bold color, natural forms, and surface decoration.

3. LANDSCAPE OF GEUMGANGSAN IN KOREA. INK AND
ORIENTAL WATERCOLOUR ON PAPER. JEONG
SEON (1676–1759).

4. THE EARLIEST EXAMPLES OF KOREAN ART CONSIST OF STONE AGE WORKS
DATING FROM 3000 BCE. THESE MAINLY CONSIST OF VOTIVE SCULPTURES,
ALTHOUGH PETROGLYPHS HAVE ALSO BEEN RECENTLY 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, PURITY OF NATURE AND SPONTANEITY.
THE GORYEO DYNASTY (918-1392) WAS ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC
PERIODS FOR ARTISTS IN MANY DISCIPLINES, ESPECIALLY IN POTTERY.
THE KOREAN ART MARKET IS CONCENTRATED IN THE INSADONG DISTRICT
OF SEOUL WHERE OVER 50 SMALL GALLERIES EXHIBIT AND THERE ARE
OCCASIONAL FINE ARTS AUCTIONS. GALLERIES ARE CO-OPERATIVELY 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 OFKOREA IN NEW YORK, SAN
FRANCISCO, LONDON AND PARIS.

5.  Neolithic art
 Humans have occupied the Korean Peninsula since at least 700,000
BCE. Pottery dated to approximately 7,000 BCE 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 BCE, 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 BCE in the archaeological
record. This type of pottery is similar to Siberian styles.
 Mumun-type pottery emerged approximately 2000 BCE and is
characterized as large, undecorated pottery, mostly used for cooking
and storage.

6.  Bronze Age art
 Between 2000 BCE and 300 BCE bronze items began to be
imported and made in Korea. By the seventh century BCE, 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.

7.  Iron Age art
 The Iron Age began in Korea around 300 BCE. Korean
iron was highly valued in the Chinese commanderies and
in Japan.Korean pottery advanced with the introduction
of the potters wheel and climbing kiln firing.
 Three Kingdoms art
 This period began circa 57 BCE to 668 CE. Three
Korean kingdoms, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla vied for
control over the peninsula.

8.  Goguryeo
 Buddhism was introduced to Goguryeo first in 372 CE because of its
location spanning much of Manchuria and the northern half of Korea,
closest to the northern Chinese states like the Northern Wei.
Buddhism inspired the Goguryeo kings to begin commission art and
architecture dedicated to the Buddha. A notable aspect of Goguryeo
art are tomb murals that vividly depict everyday aspects of life in the
ancient kingdom as well as its culture. UNESCOdesignated
the Complex of Goguryeo Tombs and as a World Heritage
Site because Goguryeo painting was influential in East Asia,
including Japan, an example being the wall murals of Horyu-ji which
was influenced by Goguryeo. Mural painting also spread to the other
two kingdoms. The murals portrayed Buddhist themes and provide
valuable clues about kingdom such as architecture and clothing.
These murals were also the very beginnings of Korean landscape
paintings and portraiture. However, the treasures of the tombs were
easily accessible and looted leaving very little physical artifacts of the
kingdom.

9. GOGURYEO TOMB MURAL

10.  Baekje is considered the kingdom with the greatest art
among the three states. Baekje was a kingdom in
southwest Korea and was influenced by southern
Chinese dynasties, such as the Liang. Baekje was also
one of the kingdoms to introduce a significant Korean
influence into the art of Japan during this time period

11. BANGASAYUSANG, LATETHREE
KINGDOMS PERIOD

12.  The Silla Kingdom tombs were mostly inaccessible and
so many examples of Korean art come from this
kingdom. The Silla craftsman were famed for their gold-
crafting ability which have similarities
to Etruscan and Greek techniques, as exampled by gold
earrings and crowns. Because of Silla gold artifacts
bearing similarities to European techniques along with
glass and beads depicting blue-eyed people found in
royal tombs, many believe that the Silk Road went all the
way to Korea. Most notable objects of Silla art are its gold
crowns that are made from pure gold and have tree and
antler-like adornments that suggest a Scythe-Siberian
and Korean shamanistic tradition.

13. A SEOKGURAM SCULPTURE FROM THE SILLA
DYNASTY, 8TH CENTURY AD

14. AVALOKITESHVARA PAINTING FROM THE KOREAN
GORYEO DYNASTY, 1310 CE., KAGAMI JINJYA,
JAPAN

15. KIM MYEONG-
GUK'SDALMADO, JOSEON PERIOD

16. JOSEON DYNASTY PALACE ARCHITECTURE

17. KOREAN FOLK DANCE PERFORMED AT SURREY FUSION
FESTIVAL 2010 IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.