KOREA: A LAND OF HATS
Exhibition Dates: September 10 - December 15, 2019
Opening Reception: Tuesday, September 10, at 5 PM
FREE and Open to the public. RSVP at www.thewangcenter.org
Charles B. Wang Center | Skylight Gallery & Zodiac Gallery
100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook, NY 11794-4040
Gallery Hour and Admission Information:
Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM–8:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday, 12 PM–8:00 PM
Free Admission & Open to the Public
Hats were key items in every Korean’s wardrobe during the Choson dynasty (1391–1910). A hat was not just an article of
clothing; it was an important symbol of social status and authority, as well as a badge of ceremony. No outfit was considered complete without an appropriate hat, and this custom was practiced across all ranks of Korean society, from the highest elites to the lowest merchants, from newborn baby boys to venerated old gentlemen. For at least 500 years, hats served as indicators of class,gender, occupation, and affiliation in Choson Korea.
This exhibition highlights the rich culture of Korean hat fashion a century ago by showcasing various hats, including those that differentiated class, occupation, age, marriage status, special occasion, and season of the year. These authentic traditional Korean hats were recreated by surviving artisans, who have been designated as living persons of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage.The exhibition is complemented by prints by Paul Jacoulet (1896–1960) and Elizabeth Keith (1887–1956), as well as by early twentieth century photographs of Korea.These two travelers visited Korea at the dawn of the twentieth century and provided an interesting Western perspective into the then vibrant hat culture of Korea during that era.
Related Programs
ART CRAWL | Korea: A Land of Hats |
Tuesday, September 10, 4:30 PM | Skylight Gallery
About the Charles B. Wang Center
Founded in 2002, as an Asian and Asian American Cultural Center and an integral component of Long Island's Stony Brook University, the Charles B. Wang Center is dedicated to being the foremost world-class center of Asian and Asian American arts and culture. Central to the Charles B. Wang Center's mission is the encouragement of an ever-deeper understanding and enjoyment of Asian and Asian American arts and culture by diverse local, national, and international audiences through public programs. These programs include exhibitions, films, lectures, workshops, performances, and educational discussions. For more information on cultural programs visit www.thewangcenter.org.
