Today symbolic sculpture fulfills special function to represent the image of one region, and they not only play a symbolic role of society and culture, but they also are used commercially to promote the industry and to advertise special products of th...
Today symbolic sculpture fulfills special function to represent the image of one region, and they not only play a symbolic role of society and culture, but they also are used commercially to promote the industry and to advertise special products of the region. Each local self-governing body erects its symbolic sculptures, expecting them to show various purposes and effects. A symbolic sculpture plays major two roles; One is that it functions as both the Landmark which is representative of the city and the region and the Communication Symbol which shows a strong symbolism. The other is that it helps to improve the quality of life, being able to make our environment more aesthetic and to provide more spacious and beautiful space.
This research was conducted on the basis of public sculpture that each local self-governing body manages. Among the broad range of environmental sculptures that are erected in some places of cities and regions, the subject of this study is confined to only domestic symbolic statues, not in foreign countries in order to find the type of unique cultural identity, which are shown by regional symbolic sculptures. A theoretical study was also undertaken by introducing the concept of the plural and eclectic representation toward the symbolic sculpture. As a result of the elements shown by the region's culture and image element-analysis they are classified according to five categories; characteristic, modernity, symbolism, intimacy, and harmony. These cultural identities could be compared and analyzed by the representing forms and regions. Especially, we could see that direct and indirect expression's elements are formed by contrast in the category of representing forms.
In the age of information and globalization, culture is important in one element. When it comes to the regional image, elements which are related to time, space, and genre should be expressed eclectically. The cultural identity that each region has consists of specific group's historic experience, geographical location, and common interest and aim for the future, and it not only provides local residents with homogeneity, originality, and the common guiding principle about understanding reality, but it also is absolutely essential elements for the survival of region and nation.