2. Requisites for the Object in Artistic Creation

The work of art, as an object of artistic creation, should reflect the artist’s Sungsang conditions, such as motif (purpose), theme, and conception (plan). For that purpose, the artist must use materials that are most appropriate to manifest these Sungsang conditions. Moreover, those physical elements (components) themselves should be arranged in such a way that they express complete harmony. These are the Hyungsang conditions.

As previously mentioned, many artists and aestheticians say that the physical elements (components) should be harmonized well in an artwork. Harmony of the physical elements refers to such things as the rhythm of lines, the harmony of shapes, of spaces, of light and shade, of color, of tone, of massing in painting, of the segments in a line, of movement in dancing, and so on.

As for the harmony of the segments in a line, consider the so-called “golden section,” which has been known since ancient times. The golden section is achieved by cutting a line in such a way that the ratio of the shorter segment to the longer segment is equal to the ratio of the longer segment to the total length of the line. This is achieved by dividing the total segment in proportions of approximately 5 to 8.

When this proportion is employed, the end result is felt as stable in shape and beauty. In a painting, for example, if the relationship between the space above and that below the horizon or the relationship between the foreground and the background is made according to this proportion, harmony can be obtained. This golden section has also been applied to the pyramids and to Gothic cathedrals.