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Why did Korean artists favor simplicity and natural materials?
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East Asian arts
Ceremonial cong of jade (calcined nephrite), 3rd millennium bc, Neolithic Liangzhu culture; in the Seattle Art Museum, Wash., U.S.
Korean artists favored simplicity and natural materials due to a traditional aesthetic philosophy that emphasizes harmony with nature. This approach is rooted in a long-standing cultural attitude of accepting the natural world as it is, which fostered a deep appreciation for unadorned beauty.1
Rather than striving for mechanical perfection, Korean artists—particularly potters—focused on bringing out the inherent characteristics of their mediums, such as the natural patterns found in wood grain. This perspective led to a style characterized by:1
- Economy of form: The intervention of the human hand is kept to a minimum, avoiding excessive decoration or the desire to fill empty space.1
- Avoidance of extremes: Korean art typically shuns sharp angles, strong lines, and garish colors in favor of gentle, mellow, and fluent lines.1
- Inner harmony: The ultimate goal is to achieve a quiet, meditative balance rather than a display of technical rhythm or complexity.1
By working unselfconsciously, artists were able to produce works that reflect a genuine, spontaneous, and indigenous aesthetic sense.12