We had a fascinating seminar at the Paik Young Hae Gallery on June 13 (2011) on the topic: “Can there be a Renaissance in Seoul?” Ms. Paik brought together a group of Koreans and internationals interested in the arts for a discussion of what can be done in the arts here in Seoul given the remarkable transformation of the city. Adrian Smith of Kyung Hee University broke the participants into smaller groups for more focused discussions. Adrian has a unique knack for getting people to talk.
The premise was of the discussion was that the Renaissance took place in Italy because of a confluence of factors:
A dynamic cultural environment and outbursts of creative activity;
New advances in technology that permitted a new level of manipulation of materials and creation of unique structures such as the Sistine Chapel
Tthe influx of capital into Italy through new financial institutions, particularly the innovations for finance associated with the Medici family;
Tthe growth of a strong tradition of patronage for artists by the wealthy;
A strong salon culture that brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds to share their ideas and collaborate.
So then, turning to Korea today, we find that Korea has become a cultural center technology, finance less so patronage and salon culture, although the potential for salon culture sarang bang, is real. The discussion concerned how such an environment could be created, spilling over into a variety of individual discussions.
I confess that I proposed the topic, in part based on my reading as an undergraduate at Yale of Michael Baxandall’s “Painting and Experience in Fifteenth Century Italy.” The premise was simplistic, but the response quite exciting.