Event

2021 Design History & Culture, The 8th Annual Exhibition

 

 

 

 

The 8th Annual Exhibition of Seoul National University’s College of Art, Design History, & Culture was held from September 6th to 10th. Every year, the Design History & Culture Major compiles its research results, including research and criticism, in a book and holds an exhibition titled “Design History & Culture.” In this annual report exhibition, eight students presented six papers and two critiques, forming a rich research field. Various studies published this year richly captured perspectives on times and topics. Overall, the modern period of Korea is attracting attention, and various other themes stand out. How is design history and design culture research in Korea interacting today and being reborn as a network of interdisciplinary knowledge? The detailed topics covered in this annual exhibition are listed below in chronological order of the contents.

Research

Ho-rang Choi, 「Formal Characteristics and Meaning of Signboards for Western Palaces in the Korean Empire Period After the Opening of Ports」

Ji-yoon Park, 「The Beginning of the Korean Design Protection System and the Concept of ‘Design’」

Hyo-nam Wang, 「Acceptance and Formation of Chinese Modern Design Concepts through Lu Xun: Focusing on Studying Abroad in Japan」

Ji-won Choi, 「Consumption Culture in Joseon during Japanese Occupation and the Symbolic Meaning of Morishita Indan Advertising」

Su-hyeon Han, 「The Gap Between Exhibition Planning and Visitors Experience during the Joseon Dynasty (1929) during Japanese Occupation」

Joo-Eun Choi, 「Nostalgia for time and space that has never been experienced”: Focusing on the images of City Pop and Vapor Wave」

Critique

Seok Lee, 「Death and Memory: A Criticism of the Design of the Cemetery of the Memorial Cemetery」

Ja-eun Choi, 「Urban Regeneration and the Shadow of Incheon Art Platform」


Ho-rang Choi, 「Formal Characteristics and Meaning of Signboards for Western Palaces in the Korean Empire Period After the Opening of Ports」

How did Korea’s existing traditional order accept Western architecture and design after opening the port? This study analyzed the signboards of the Yanggwan and the signboards of the existing halls in the palace during the Korean Empire. Such exploration allows us to understand the formal characteristics and meanings of the signboards of Yanggwan, from Gwanmungak of Gyeongbokgung Palace, known as the first Western-style palace hall to Jangseogak of Changgyeongguk built in 1915. This study can be seen as the first attempt to approach the changes that occurred when Western-style buildings were built in palaces where strict traditional order and ceremonies were maintained through the design of ‘signboards.’

Ho-rang Choi, Ph.D. in Design History & Culture

Interests: Design Politics, Ecology, and Design, Urban Architecture, and Design


Ji-yoon Park, 「The Beginning of the Korean Design Protection System and the Concept of ‘Design’」

Today, the need for and importance of legal protection of designs is increasing. Where did the concept of ‘design’ in the Korean legal system originate, and how does it differ from ‘design’ in the universal sense? This study examined the historical change process of Korea’s <Design Patent Act> as the design concept continued to expand and become more complex and described the design concept applied to the interpretation of legal principles. Through the formation and development of the early design protection system, the problem of today’s concept definition is further identified by paying attention to the change in the term ‘design’ used in the legal system. In particular, this study is significant because it places the historical origin of the concept of design patent today within the concept of ‘design patent’ from the Joseon Dynasty and examines its meaning.

Ji-yoon Park, Ph.D. in Design History & Culture

Interests: History of East Asian Modern Design and Culture


Hyo-nam Wang, 「Acceptance and Formation of Chinese Modern Design Concepts through Lu Xun: Focusing on Studying Abroad in Japan」

Lu Xun, regarded as the father of modern Chinese literature, influenced not only literature but also the modern awareness of Chinese design. He left to study in Japan to ‘heal bodies’ as a doctor, although subsequently, he decided to become a writer who heals the ‘spirit’ of China. Lu Xun’s study abroad experience in Japan was important because his ideas greatly influenced the formation of new art forms that fit the times, the relationship between literature and art, and the value of crafts. This study examined the acceptance and formation of Lu Xun’s modern design concept by analyzing Japan’s literary and artistic activities during Lu Xun’s study abroad period and the policy related to design within the food industry policy.

Hyo-nam Wang, Ph.D. in Design History and Culture

Interests: Typography, democratization design, the social role of design, design education, design, and culture


Ji-won Choi, 「Consumption Culture in Joseon during Japanese Occupation and the Symbolic Meaning of Morishita Indan Advertising」

Advertising acts as a mirror of the times and society. This study examined and analyzed the ideological meaning visualized in the domestic advertisement for ‘Indan,’ a mouth freshener manufactured by Morishita Nanyodo, a Japanese company, during the Japanese colonial period. As the efficacy of Morishita Indan was unclear compared to that introduced as a drug, it was intended to supplement the inherent limitations of the product by actively introducing a positively perceived lifestyle in the advertisement. These advertising strategies were changing according to the changes in the Japanese colonial rule. This study provides a glimpse into the consumption culture of colonial capitalism during the Japanese colonial period.

Ji-won Choi, Master of Design History and Culture

Interests: public nature of design, design policy, the social role of design


Su-hyeon Han, 「The Gap Between Exposition Planning and Visitors Experience during the Joseon Dynasty (1929) during Japanese Occupation」

To define the meaning and character of the exhibition, it is necessary to consider the planning of the exhibition and the aspect of viewing. In the case of the Joseon Exposition during the Japanese colonial period, an in-depth analysis of the viewing aspect is required because the organizers of the Joseon Government-General and Koreans who were forcedly mobilized for the exposition were in a mutually separated context. From this point of view, this study aimed to identify the characteristics of the Chosun Expo by considering the intention of the exhibition planner and the audience’s acceptance and clarify the nature and status of the Expo as cultural contents during the Japanese colonial period. In this regard, the researchers analyzed the publicity and opening events of the Joseon Expo, the appearance and arrangement of the exhibition hall, the display and explanations of exhibits, and the articles and criticisms of the press at the time. The author observed that organizers and visitors evaluated the Chosun Expo very differently because the exhibition planning did not account for the level and understanding of the visitors, creating a large gap between the two groups.

Su-hyeon Han, Master’s Program in Design History and Culture

Interests: exhibition space design, participatory design, sustainable design


Joo-Eun Choi, 「Nostalgia for time and space that has never been experienced”: Focusing on the images of City Pop and Vapor Wave」

What does nostalgia for the inexperienced mean? This study examined the psychological origins of the MZ generation who encountered images related to ‘city pop’ and ‘vaporwave’ as retro music genres and felt nostalgia. The researcher analyzed the hypothesis that simply nostalgia or freshness of the past cannot explain some socio-cultural factors, suggesting that the sentiment of nostalgia has been established as a cultural phenomenon. Through this perspective, the study exposes the underlying problems of modern society and the psychological deficiency of the MZ generation. The author focused on the fresh topic of city pop and attempted in-depth analysis from a psychological and social point of view, broadening the range of diversity in design history research.

Joo-Eun Choi, Master of Design History and Culture

Interests: Illustration, Social Roles in Design, Design and Human Psychology


Seok Lee, 「Death and Memory: A Criticism of the Design of the Cemetery of the Memorial Cemetery」

How should the state remember the death of an individual who sacrificed for the country? This article looks at the cemetery as a place to remember death from a design perspective. Visual dimensions, such as shape, structure, size of the space, and facilities of the cemetery, were analyzed, revealing social and historical problems, such as class discrimination and traces of Japanese colonial rule. Furthermore, the study uncovered that these issues are linked to deep-rooted historical problems in Korea’s modern and contemporary history. In terms of space and vision, the author utilized a unique analysis method in the design dimension different from the existing architectural studies.

Seok Lee,  Master’s Program in Design History and Culture

Interests: East Asian design history, Korean culture prototypes, and design, Internet culture and design


Ja-eun Choi, 「Urban Regeneration and the Shadow of Incheon Art Platform」

In a Korean city where traces of the past have been almost lost in the history of twists and turns, a space that preserves life and continues to this day becomes even more precious. How does urban regeneration preserve and sustain this temporal space? This article analyzed the Incheon Art Platform, an example of the voluntary cultural rebirth of local governments, from a critical point of view, as an anchor facility for the regeneration of the cultural district of the open port by borrowing the power of culture and art based on the specificity of the Incheon area. Following the footsteps of Incheon Art Platform for the past ten years since its opening, the author described how urban regeneration should preserve the local history and cultural values through analyzing hardware and software aspects.

Ja-eun Choi, Master’s Program in Design History and Culture

Interests: Graphic design, branding, art museum exhibition space design.

Seoul National University S&D Hall, Online2021-09-06 ~ 2021-09-10 written by ICRC
September 15, 2021