Date of Award
Spring 5-31-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Textiles
First Advisor
Anna Gitelson-Kahn
Second Advisor
Brooks Hagan
Third Advisor
Christopher Bardt
Abstract
In an era shaped by environmental crises, the erosion of seasonal rhythms, cultural uncertainty, and the accelerating pace of technological shifts, this thesis explores how textiles—through their tactility, atmosphere, and quiet presence—can serve as vessels for meditative and emotional spaces, which I refer to as "poetic spaces." In the midst of countless unpredictable variables and a rapidly evolving cultural landscape, there is a growing need for environments where silence and quiet reflection can unfold. Within this broader context, poetic space functions not merely as an aesthetic concept, but as a vital site for emotional grounding and inner restoration.
This research weaves together personal memories and interdisciplinary studies, seeking deeper registers of stillness, materiality, and sensory immersion.
Chapter I revisits three of the researcher’s personal spaces through reflective narratives. Chapter II expands the discussion under the theme Research / Qualities Intrinsic to Poetic Spaces, examining how architecture, painting, and textiles transcend their physical forms to create profound emotional resonance. Core concepts such as poetic architecture, the meditative practices of the Dansaekhwa movement in post-war Korea, and atmospheric and sensory textiles frame the discourse.
Chapter III synthesizes insights from these reflections and interdisciplinary explorations, leading to the development of three overarching research frameworks and eight core qualities that establish the logical foundation of the study.
In Chapter IV, textile structures, materials, and colors are explored to deepen material expressions, culminating in the development and analysis of the researcher’s pattern and woven textile designs.
Finally, Chapter V offers a comprehensive conclusion, suggesting the potential applications of the selected works across various fields. It also proposes directions for future research—an effort to open a dialogue between textiles, a space that merges contemplation with hospitality, offering both stillness and warmth, as well as emotional resonance.
Recommended Citation
Kim, Dora HyunJung, "Immersive Stillness in Poetic Space: Textiles for an Uncertain World" (2025). Masters Theses. 1446.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1446
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Fiber, Textile, and Weaving Arts Commons, Furniture Design Commons, Industrial and Product Design Commons, Interior Architecture Commons, Interior Design Commons, Landscape Architecture Commons