Day 2 of Religiosity, Spirituality, Material Culture in Korea: Devotional Objects and Contemporary Variations. (Day 1 is unavailable.)

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).

This symposium was supported by the 2023 Korean Studies Grant Program of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2023-C-029).

Schedule: Day One—Thursday, December 7

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
Coffee Break (30 mins)

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
Schedule: Day Two—Friday, December 8
Welcome (9:45–10 am)

Session 3. The Consumption and Waste of Devotion (10–11:30 am)
  • Neon Crosses of Korean Churches: Marketing and Religiosity in Contemporary Design Kyunghee Pyun, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York
  • Ritual Rice and the Hungry Nation: Shamanic Excess during the Great Depression Merose Hwang, Hiram College
  • Pseudo-religious Consumption of Gifts and Merchandise in K-Pop Fandom Marc De Jong, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York
Coffee Break (30 mins)

Session 4. Modern Remakings of the Vernacular (12–1:30 pm)
  • Modern Graphic Identity in the Material Culture of Nation-State Soohyun Mok, Seoul National University
  • Modernist Exorcism: Redesigning the Folkloric Motifs for the 1988 Summer Olympics Seungyeon Gabrielle Jung, University of California, Irvine
  • Conceptually Material Condition of Korean Experimental Art Jung-Ah Woo, POSTECH
1:30–2 pm Closing Remarks
Yunah Lee, University of Brighton
Covid Policies
Bard Graduate Center (BGC) Gallery’s policies reflect our commitment to create a safe and comfortable environment for everyone who visits our buildings. Our institution is mask-friendly; we support and encourage those who wish to wear one. All visitors must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and follow the safety guidelines and policies outlined below. BGC reserves the right to ask visitors who do not follow these guidelines to leave.

Stay home if you feel sick
Please do not visit BGC Gallery if you have a fever or any COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, or have had close contact with anyone who is confirmed to have or suspected of having COVID-19.

Vaccination required
Bard Graduate Center requires up-to-date vaccination against COVID-19 as defined by the Centers for Disease Control.

Social distancing is encouraged
We recommend keeping at least six feet from others not in your party when possible.

Follow signs and directions from BGC staff members
Follow the guidance of BGC staff, who are monitoring visitor traffic throughout the building. They are there to help keep everyone safe and comfortable. Visitors who do not follow posted instructions from our staff will be asked to leave.

Risk of exposure
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. By visiting BGC Gallery, you acknowledge and voluntarily assume all risk to any potential exposure to COVID-19.