Religiosity, Spirituality, Material Culture in Korea: Devotional Objects and Contemporary Variations (Day One)

Religiosity and spirituality may be intangible in concept and principle, but these ideas are manifest in materiality. This two-day symposium expands the scope of Korean art history to objects outside the traditional category of “fine art” and moves beyond aesthetic analysis to consider sensorial engagement, ritual function, the transformative reception of materiality, techniques of production, and histories of consumption. Participants will discuss both institutionalized and unorthodox objects and practices from Buddhism, Daoism, Shamanism, and Christianity over a wide chronological range of themes from ancient worship objects to fandom in contemporary popular culture.

Co-organized by Heeryoon Shin (Bard College) and Kyunghee Pyun (Fashion Institute of Technology).

Schedule:
Welcome (1:45–2 pm)

Session 1. Intangible Materiality and Tangible Spirituality (2–3:30 pm)

Gods, Shamans, and Things: Shamanic Materiality in the Ontology and Practice of Korean Mansin Laurel Kendall, American Museum of Natural History

Visions and Stones: Numinosity and the Virtual in Korean Shamanic Rock Divination David Kim, SUNY Purchase
Specters of Comfort Women Jungah Kim-Kiteishvili, CUNY BMCC

Session 2. Porous Borders (4–5:30 pm)

Kyŏngch’ŏn Pagoda and Architectural Forms in the Yuan Empire’s Contact Zones Yong Cho, University of California, Riverside

The Omnipresence of the Immaculate Mary: The Pictorial Reception of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Our Lady of Lourdes in the Korean Catholic Church Yuna Han, Seoul National University

Transforming Buddhist Culture as ‘Art’ or ‘Cultural Assets’ Heejung Kang, Sogang University

Keynote (6–7 pm)

Images and Materiality in Korean Buddhist Art Juhyung Rhi, Seoul National University