The flag of Republic of Korea, Taegeukgi is composed of red, blue, white and black. Each color of Taegeukgi well represents korean culture and their beliefs. In this Gallery, we want to talk about how color elements included in the Taegeukgi are used in other images and how each color expresses Korean people's perspectives. We expect the audiences to understand how 4 colors of Taegeukgi are important to know Korean culture.
Rocks at Belle-Île, Port-Domois, Claude Monet (French, b.1840, d.1926), 1886, From the collection of: Cincinnati Art Museum
Blue in Taegeukgi means cold. The blue in the picture represents a dark sea and hardship by expressing some sharp rocks and wild waves . As everyone now, ocean is not always peaceful, it sometimes comes to people as a fearful and cold place.
Blue Night 2005, Yi, Hee Choung, 2005, From the collection of: Korean Art Museum Association
The mood of tranquility of dawn and beautiful butterflies are well balanced and expressed in the picture. Sometimes, blue also represents peaceful quietness and is used to imply something. Again, blue not only expresses quitness and cold but also hides emotion.
Portrait of Heungseon Daewongun Yi Haeung Wearing a Black Hat and a Blue Robe, Yi Han-cheol, 1808/1880, From the collection of: Korea Data Agency
Blue means righteousness and integrity. This is a portrait of Heungseon Daewongun. His blue outfits successfully represents his intergrity that shows his political idea of diplomacy against the Western society.
Boating, Shim Sa-jeong, 1707/1769, From the collection of: Korea Data Agency
Blue sea around the Korean peninsula is a living foundation for ancestors. The sea provided foods, and it was the place for labor. Koreans used to solve anxiety for living and pray for future and dream of thier lives around the sea. Therefore, blue is very much familiar color to Korean culture.
PH-1078, Clyfford Still, 1951, From the collection of: Clyfford Still Museum
All ages and countries, black symbolizes darkness. However, The black symbolizes not only negative elements but also eternity and mystery in korea. The black in Taegeukgi of korea symbolizes infinite spirit like sky and ground and represents ligth spirit like sun and moon.
Bukhan Mountain 2, Kang, Kyung Koo, 1998, From the collection of: Korean Art Museum Association
This work is based on Seoul in a theme depicting the landscape of Mt.Bukhan in the winter. Black has been used in Korea that
symbmolizes cold and dark images by this time. The artist of this piece expresses loneliness and solitary of Mt.Bukhan in
the winter clearly.
PH-1180, Clyfford Still, 1949, From the collection of: Clyfford Still Museum
In contrast to the black, white is the symbol of brightness.Korean people have adored white color for a long time and the
idea is called 'the white-clad folk'. Also, the white symbolizes simplicity and cleanness which is not corrupted by other color.The white background of Taegeukgi represents bright and purity and ethnicity that shows the way how Koreans look toward peace traditionally.
Ministers dressed in a gold-ornated hat and red silk court attire, Kim Jun-geun, 1850/1950, From the collection of: Korea Data Agency
In addition to dynamic and passion, red in Korea symbolized the king. This work is a self-portrait of Emperor Gojong and
shows royal dignity with red and gold color.
Between Red_074, Lee, Seahyun, 이세현, 2008, From the collection of: Korean Art Museum Association
Red, again, brings the mood of power and intense. The artist, SeaHyun Lee wanted to express Korean mountains to be strong and lively by coloring them in red. (In Taegeukgi, red symbolizes warm and poweful element in opposite to blue.)
Portrait of King Gojong, Chae Yong-sin, 1850/1913, From the collection of: Korea Data Agency
In addition to dynamic and passion, red in Korea symbolized the king. This work is a self-portrait of Emperor Gojong and shows royal dignity with red and gold color.
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