In God Pictures in Korean Contexts, Laurel Kendall, Jongsung Yang, and Yul Soo Yoon present an engaging foray into the realm of shaman paintings in Korea, exploring the circulation of these paintings among shamans, art collectors, museums, and merchants, while delineating the multiple valences of meaning created by these often overlooked yet ubiquitous artworks. The three authors, well-known scholars of Korean shamanism and folk art, provide a series of perspectives on the shifting terrains of use and interpretation that characterize this art. Never forced, the authors' voices blend together, while taking advantage of their varying intellectual traditions. As such, the book is a model of the benefits of collaborative work on complex cultural phenomena.
The book is arranged into five chapters. The first chapter, “The Lives of Korean Shaman Paintings,” introduces the reader to the intellectual trajectories of the three authors and their intersecting approaches to shaman art. They...
