Korea

The Block

This block is a wonderful example of Korean patchwork. In order not to waste material, Korean women collect scraps of fabric left over from dresses or quilts. Exhibiting their wonderful sense of colour, they join pieces to create pojagi, which are patchwork cloths used as table coverings or gift wrappings. The time-consuming effort is believed to reflect a woman’s dedication to her family.

Transparent silks were hand sewn together to make this block. Transparent patchwork is used for partitions or room dividers and the pieces are often used as screens or hung in windows. Light shining through the fabrics, transforms them into translucent works of art. Surface embroidery has a long tradition in Korea and blockmaker Youngae Kwon has stitched a variety of traditional embroidery symbols in the centre of her patchwork and finished it with a very fine, hand-made, linen border.

Cultural Profile

Korea is a mountainous and forested region in north-eastern Asia. The official language, Korean, is a language isolate, meaning it does not have any ‘relative’ amongst the other language of the world. A busy and hard-working people with a passionate nature, Koreans have a strong cultural and national identity. They are one ethnic family speaking one language. Devotion to family, obedience to parents, respect for ancestors and the aged, strong loyalties to friends, and co-operation are important virtues that are the basic principles of living and conduct.

Because of diverse weather conditions, Korean clothing and accessories are made from a wide range of materials. Different areas of the country are famous for their specialized fabrics, such as white ramie and Andong hemp. Colours traditionally emphasize the stages of life – children and young people wear very bright colours while older generation wear softer and more subdued hues. Korean embroidery is renowned for its use of silk threads to produce very detailed patterns and images on cloth that are realistic that they are ‘painted with thread’. The hanbok is the traditional dress of Koreans and these feature beautiful embroidery. Though not usually worn on a daily basis, hanboks remain an essential part of Korean clothing on formal and ceremonial occasions.

Koreans are known for their excellent craftsmanship. Exquisite ceramics, some of which date back as far as 5000 years, are prized by collectors. Korean music, dance and performance arts are at the center of Korea’s identity. Both folk music and classical music is important in the country, while its pop music, labelled K-Pop, has achieved international popularity and has grown into a large sector of the country’s economy. A video by rapper Psy’s Gangnam Style is the most popular video ever shown on the Internet, with over 2 billion views.

Koreans have been immigrating to Canada since the 1960s, seeking opportunities for economic independence and a better future for their families. Most came as highly skilled workers or professionals such as doctors, engineers and professors. Many are now engaged in business (restaurants, food stores, real estate). The majority of Korean immigrants settled in urban centres, particularly in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary, and there are now over 168,000 living in Canada. Koreans have contributed widely to the Canadian fabric through dance, music, art, Tae-Kwon-Do (an art of self-defence) and specialized cuisine. They have also established cultural associations, language schools, Korean-language newspapers, and business organizations to maintain their cultural ties.

Sponsor: Nancy Warwick