Connections: establishing spiritual and cultural connections

Abstract

ABSTRACT Connections: establishing spiritual and cultural connections

This thesis and the accompanying body of work explores a means of establishing a connection with my family and the culture of Korea by interrogating the many rituals and practices which influence the daily lives of Koreans. I migrated from Korea to Australia over ten years ago. Over that time I have experienced a sense of dislocation and a certain ‘loss of self’. This encouraged me to search for ways, through my art practice to develop lasting and continuing connections to the culture of my birth. The culture of Korea has been influenced over centuries by three main religions; Shamanism, Buddhism and Confucianism. These three religions have been fundamental in creating the culture and the plethora of rituals and practices which now infiltrate all aspects of Korean life. By recreating and re-contextualizing family and religious rituals and practices through the lens of my own experience I have attempted to create an ongoing working process which is meditative and ritualistic in its construction. I find this research has enlightened me to practices within my family and culture which I had often overlooked or taken for granted. I feel enriched with the knowledge I have gained. Furthermore, by establishing a spiritual and intellectual methodology in the creation of my work I know that I have achieved the connection which was the aim of my research. It has left me with a legacy I can pursue in future work.