Constructing a hanok, Korea’s traditional house, is painstaking. It requires attention to details, a faithful adherence to Confucian tenets, and regard for natural aesthetics. But through the years, the hanok had situated itself at the forefront of promoting Korea’s heritage and cultural uniqueness.
In the light of this thrust, the Korean Cultural Center will be opening an exhibit on hanok on Nov. 16 to introduce hanok to the Filipinos. It will also be an extended show of the Clayarch Gimhae Museum of Korea.
The exhibit “Contemporary Hanok,” will feature several modern-day hanok forms which tackle the revitalized interest of the Korean people with the traditional housing amid the continued modernization of Korea’s residential spaces.
It will also touch upon how the present-day hanok adapt to the contemporary life while preserving its cultural and historical value and will delve into the variety of its forms and beauty of its designs.
The hanoks are considered a testament of Korea’s regard for nature to fully make use of the available resources for dwelling purposes. The hanoks are built with trees, soil, stone and paper and was designed to withstand the Korean seasons.
The traditional houses also highlight the unity of aesthetics, principles of prevalent philosophies and science. They are equipped with the ondol system, an under-floor heating system designed specifically for the Korean dwelling.
Artist-architects Junggung CHO, Doojin Hwang, Yongmi Kim, Jonghoen Kim and photographer Junhwan Yoon are the participating artists whose extensive work portfolios have tried to make modernity and tradition thrive in a single space of residence.
The exhibit will run until Feb. 15, 2013.
Call 5551711; e-mail info@koreanculture.ph; visit www.koreanculture.ph.