A Study on the Figuration of Korean Traditional Pattern Images

한국 전통문양의 이미지 형상화 소고

The purpose of this study was to investigate the images and characteristic formative elements of Korean traditional patterns. The Korean pattern image could be interpreted into visual elements of design based on the images, the characteristic formative elements of Korean traditional patterns, and their relationships. Fourteen patterns selected from 5 groups of Korean patterns were used as stimuli. An image evaluation using a 2-point sementica scale of 19 bipolar adjectives, and an impression evaluation of which results were presented by visual drawing using lines and shapes were carried out. The data were analyzed by correspondence analysis and cluster analysis. The major findings are as follows; 1. Fourteen patterns and 19 adjectives were marked on a perception map composed of two (x and y-) axes. The bipoles of x- and y axes were soft-hard and splendid-artless, respectively. 2. Four clusters semerged to account for the dimensional sturucture of 14 patterns and 19 adjectives. These were splendid image, soft image, individualistic image, and sophisticated image. However there was no pattern which belonged to the cluster, sophisticated image. The Korean pattern image was founded to be better related to the kind of patterns than the type of patterns. 3. The characteristic formative elements obtained from the impression test were contour of motif, repeated line or shape, various curved lines, and decorative elements. 4. The splendid image was related to Bongwhang patterns and detailed line and complexity. The individualistic image was related to the abstractive form of Bongwhang pattern and the decorative form of Cloud pattern both of which have the characteristics of point-symmetry and abstraction, and Turtle-back pattern. In this case, the related charac-teristic formative element was identified to be repeated lines. The soft image was related to Moran, Cloud, and Taegeuk patterns. The related characteristic elements were various types of curved lines, decorative elements, and rounded contours.