As a foreigner living in Korea, I created this collage reflecting on the experiences of fellow expatriates and Korea's rich cultural heritage.
I chose the tiger and dragon as central animals because they are powerful symbols frequently seen in Korean mythology and art. The tiger typically represents protection, strength, and national identity, while the dragon is associated with wisdom and good fortune. By incorporating mountains, I
aimed to evoke traditional Korean landscape paintings (산수화 - "sansuhwa") and emphasize harmony with nature. Similarly, I included other animals and objects that symbolize luck and continuity.
The figures of people among mountains and water represent themes of daily life, celebration, and collaboration, highlighting the importance of community spirit.
Overall, I focused on red and green tones while incorporating motifs from traditional Korean architecture and crafts, such as hanok roof decorations.
The frame and patterns blend traditional elements with a modern interpretation, creating a bridge between past and future that reflects contemporary Korea. The red sun (해/hae) at the bottom of the composition and the white moon (달/dal) at the top are symbols with deep meanings in Korean culture and mythology. The sun represents yang energy, active power, and life-giving force, while the moon symbolizes yin energy, tranquility, and cyclical time. In Korean mythology, the sun is generally viewed as masculine and represents the king figure, while the moon is accepted as feminine and represents the queen figure. These two elements create the yin-yang balance fundamental to Eastern philosophy, representing the harmony of opposing forces, completeness, and universal equilibrium.
The design's inspiration and starting point come from traditional Korean celadon pottery. I combined this with a traditional Korean pattern representing continuity and community spirit, bringing together all the elements I wanted to convey in this single concept. The idea of bowls and communal meals felt very familiar to me because in Turkey, we often gather around dishes cooked in a single pot or bowl. This made me realize how the energy and joy of people sharing a meal together around such communal food creates truly unique memories.
When I considered this in the context of Korean culture, bibimbap came to mind, how various vegetables and ingredients come together in a single bowl to create a flavor you could never imagine. As a foreigner, this was a unique experience for me. In a way, living here as expatriates, we come from different cultures, experiences, and perspectives, yet we meet at the same point, blend together, and create new experiences. This is why I built the main theme of this bowl around conveying this feeling.
I chose the tiger and dragon as central animals because they are powerful symbols frequently seen in Korean mythology and art. The tiger typically represents protection, strength, and national identity, while the dragon is associated with wisdom and good fortune. By incorporating mountains, I
aimed to evoke traditional Korean landscape paintings (산수화 - "sansuhwa") and emphasize harmony with nature. Similarly, I included other animals and objects that symbolize luck and continuity.
The figures of people among mountains and water represent themes of daily life, celebration, and collaboration, highlighting the importance of community spirit.
Overall, I focused on red and green tones while incorporating motifs from traditional Korean architecture and crafts, such as hanok roof decorations.
The frame and patterns blend traditional elements with a modern interpretation, creating a bridge between past and future that reflects contemporary Korea. The red sun (해/hae) at the bottom of the composition and the white moon (달/dal) at the top are symbols with deep meanings in Korean culture and mythology. The sun represents yang energy, active power, and life-giving force, while the moon symbolizes yin energy, tranquility, and cyclical time. In Korean mythology, the sun is generally viewed as masculine and represents the king figure, while the moon is accepted as feminine and represents the queen figure. These two elements create the yin-yang balance fundamental to Eastern philosophy, representing the harmony of opposing forces, completeness, and universal equilibrium.
The design's inspiration and starting point come from traditional Korean celadon pottery. I combined this with a traditional Korean pattern representing continuity and community spirit, bringing together all the elements I wanted to convey in this single concept. The idea of bowls and communal meals felt very familiar to me because in Turkey, we often gather around dishes cooked in a single pot or bowl. This made me realize how the energy and joy of people sharing a meal together around such communal food creates truly unique memories.
When I considered this in the context of Korean culture, bibimbap came to mind, how various vegetables and ingredients come together in a single bowl to create a flavor you could never imagine. As a foreigner, this was a unique experience for me. In a way, living here as expatriates, we come from different cultures, experiences, and perspectives, yet we meet at the same point, blend together, and create new experiences. This is why I built the main theme of this bowl around conveying this feeling.
