Denim jeans seen as art

A visitor looks around the special exhibition "Jeans" at the National Folk Museum of Korea.

Denim jeans have many characteristics. They are regarded as comfort clothes, a symbol of youth culture and sometimes freedom or a special faith.

The National Folk Museum of Korea has been holding a special exhibition since October 15 on denim jeans, an article of clothing that symbolizes its own culture. The exhibition will last until February 23, 2015. Museum-goers can take a look at about 390 works of art and related information about blue jeans from both Korea and from around the world.

The National Folk Museum of Korea has on display some 390 works of art related to denim jeans.

Originating in California, denim jeans have become a favorite article of clothing around the world, regardless of culture, age or times. They were first worn by miners during the gold rush as working clothes. They were introduced to Korea by U.S. soldiers during the Korean War (1950-1953). In Korea, denim jeans represented youth, rebellion and freedom during the 1960s and 1970s. Since the 1980s, they mean challenges and creativity.

The National Folk Museum of Korea publishes the booklet "Blue Jeans" after a year-long research program.

The president of Model Line, Lee Jae Yeon, the first model to wear denim jeans in Korea, said, "When I was a highschooler, I went to Namdaemun Market to buy jeans twice or three times, but couldn't get any". Lee added that denim jeans were regarded as precious items of clothing for which he had to ask special favors from the traders in order to buy.

Yang Hee Eun, a famous singer with an acoustic guitar who was an icon of youth culture during the 1970s, spoke about the social prejudice against denim wear. "Older singers strongly criticized me, saying that they cannot appear on the same stage with me because I was wearing denim pants and running shoes".

A jacket and a pair of Levi's 501 denim pants, which were made in 1937 and 1938, respectively, are from the Levi Strauss Museum in Germany.

The above pair of denim pants, dubbed "Noko jeans", are made in North Korea in 2009.

Curatorial Assistant at the museum Noh Eunhui said, "The exhibition shows denim jeans and posters from the Levi Strauss Museum in Germany, which was initially the birthplace of denim jean creator Levi Strauss. Visitors can see many denim-related displays, including denim works by modern artist Ben Venom and a pair of denim jeans made in North Korea".

"This is the first-ever exhibition about denim jeans in the world", Noh added. "The exhibition is composed of four parts: the birth and spread of denim jeans, denim jeans entering the daily routine, regret over denim jeans and mixed feelings over jeans. This exhibition helps people understand denim jeans as a cultural item, not merely as a piece of clothing".

Article by Jeon Han, Yoon Sojung
Photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
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