Exhibition: "Metal, Iron and Steel: the Cultural History of Iron"
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- Part 1, "Iron Meets Human", focuses on the human effort of making stronger iron and the social phenomena generated by it. Since humans started using iron from nature, iron developed in various forms by region. The emergence and development of iron culture are different in the East and the West. Through examining historical events, the section seeks to discover the role and value of iron in world history.
- Part 2, entitled "Iron Makes Power", describes how the emergence of iron has led to increased productivity, which led rulers to want to own more iron. The possession of iron symbolised power. This symbolism of iron had appeared in various forms from the Prehistoric Age to Joseon Dynasty. Struggles to maintain power brought about wars. The increased productivity through iron can be said to mean ”growth“ while the war caused by power means “destruction”. Part 2 goes down to how iron-birthed power created numerous contradictory events.
- Finally, Part 3, "Iron Enters Life", explains that iron has been used for everyday tools, building materials, religious icons, colouring materials, etc. Folk paintings from the Joseon Dynasty contain many iron tools used for basic living, ancestral rites and rituals. The property of iron, which is rough and rugged, is used to express the beauty of iron Buddha and the original color of iron. Part 3 shows how people tried to use iron to achieve their purposes.
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