Korean Rhapsody

Suh Do-ho "Uni-form/s:Self Portrait/s:My 39 Years," 2006.
169 x 56 x 254 ㎝, fabric, fiberglass resin, stainless steel, casters.
sourced from http://e-flux.com/shows/view/9443
Korean Rhapsody sheds lights on these experiences through the visual narratives of the artists and visionaries of the age. The works displayed range from visual archives, painting, photography and video—together assembling a "montage of history and memory" by exploring themes of identity, war, trauma and nature.

It was by pure chance that I came across this article in E-flux as it really seems to tie in with my theoretical approach to my collection. Looking back at my first process journal which I had slowly started over the summer break before uni commenced, I had written about why I began to look into the historical aspect of Korea as a point of reference;

Lost times= lost fashion of South Korea

I have always wondered and questioned myself ; what is Korean design? what is Korean fashion? what makes a design Korean?

In the present, the majority of Koreans wear garments influenced by the West. After the Korean War (1950-1953), the gate to Western culture and social behaviours were promoted to modernise the country.

However, due to the rapid absorption of Western influences, the customary, centuries-old, traditional way of dressing was quickly forgotten and disappeared.

If the absorption rate had been slower, and if the change from traditional to Western garments had developed gradually over a longer period of time what would have been the outcomes of Korean fashion today in the 21st Century?