Korean Empire's Cultural Exchange Through 'Crafts': 'The Hybrid'

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To mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France, an exhibition is being held to explore how our traditional culture embraced and evolved with Western civilization following the opening of ports.

Reporter Lee Ju-sang has the story.

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[The Hybrid / Until the 26th / Seoul Museum of Craft Art]

A strange-looking hat appeared in Hanyang during the Korean Empire period.

Using horsehair and applying ink and lacquer inside and out, it followed the manufacturing method of traditional gat (traditional Korean hats), but its shape was Western.

The pure gold bracelet is said to have been presented by Empress Myeongseong to congratulate the wedding of American missionary Dr. and Mrs. Underwood.

This is the armor and helmet of Emperor Gojong.

The red woolen outer armor is decorated with metal five-clawed dragons symbolizing the emperor.

The five-clawed dragons are also clearly visible on the helmet, which features a spire ornament on top.

[Lee Hyo-sun / Curator, Seoul Museum of Craft Art : Emperor Gojong presented these ceremonial armors as diplomatic gifts to figures like Prince Heinrich of Germany or the Emperor of Austria who visited the Korean Empire.]

The white porcelain blue-and-white jar with a flying dragon is known to have been a gift from Emperor Gojong to Victor Collin de Plancy, the first French diplomatic representative to Korea.

Minister Collin de Plancy collected some 500 pieces of ceramics, including Goryeo celadon, and donated them to the Sèvres National Museum of Ceramics.

The Sèvres manufactory reconstructed our ceramics with a uniquely French aesthetic, naming them the Seoul Vase, Busan Vase, and Ulsan Vase.

[Lee Hyo-sun / Curator, Seoul Museum of Craft Art : Craft pieces that targeted the tastes of foreigners, such as Goryeo celadon, mother-of-pearl lacquerware, and ceremonial furniture, were collected and recorded by Westerners who visited Joseon and the Korean Empire, and thus transmitted overseas.]

The opening of ports in the late 19th century provided a new turning point for the production of Joseon's crafts.

[Lee Hyo-sun / Curator, Seoul Museum of Craft Art : In the turbulent era where tradition and modernity, the East and the West intersected, you can examine the traces of mutual influence achieved through craft pieces.]

Exchanges with France that began 140 years ago led to aesthetic changes and creative expansion.

(Video Editing: Ahn Yeo-jin, VJ: Oh Se-gwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.