Latest news with #NationalMuseumofKorea
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
For first time, SeMoCA holds Buddhist-themed embroidery exhibition
Visitors will have rare opportunity to see robes worn by revered monks who played key roles in Korea's history In celebration of Buddha's Birthday, the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (SeMoCA) is presenting South Korea's first and largest Buddhist-themed embroidery exhibition, showcasing traditional works and treasured artifacts rarely available for public viewing. Buddha's Birthday, celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, falls on May 5 this year. Titled 'Weaving Devotion – Sacred Stitches Leading to Nirvana,' the exhibition offers a rare look at traditional embroidered 'Kasaya,' Buddhist monastic robes, including one that has not been on public display in 47 years since its last appearance at a special exhibition at the National Museum of Korea in 1978. Originally a simple garment symbolizing a practitioner's commitment to the path of enlightenment, the Kasaya was adapted across East Asia to suit local climates and cultural norms. In Korea, it evolved into a ritual robe worn over the monastic inner garment, often conferred upon highly esteemed monks who contributed to national peace, social order and unity during times of crisis, according to the SeMoCA. "By looking at the exhibition, visitors will have a deeper understanding of the people's desires, hopes and dreams from that time. They could also compare them to the dreams we have today and see the differences and similarities," Kim Soo-jung, director of SeMoCA, said during a press tour on Wednesday. Among the highlights is a restored Kasaya robe donated by the late Heo Dong-hwa, former president of the Korean Museum Association, restored in collaboration with the Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center. The exhibition features some 55 pieces, including embroidered Kasaya robes and portraits of esteemed monks dating from the Goryeo era (918–1392) to the modern era. Many of the artifacts have been carefully preserved at major temples nationwide. Of particular note are ceremonial robes once worn by Seosan Daesa and Samyeong Daesa, two revered monks who played critical roles during the Japanese invasions of Korea in the late 16th century. The robes were conferred by King Seonjo of the Joseon era in recognition of the monks' leadership in organizing monastic militias to reclaim the capital. Running alongside the main exhibition is 'Light Awakens the Heart,' a special display in the museum's lobby commemorating the fifth anniversary of Yondeunghoe — the Lotus Lantern Festival -- being inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 'Weaving Devotion – Sacred Stitches Leading to Nirvana' runs through July 27 at the Seoul Museum of Craft Art. Admission is free. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Mondays.
Korea Herald
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
In first, Korean museum looks at Oceanian cultures
Exhibit offers inspiration to help combat climate change, the National Museum of Korea says The National Museum of Korea has opened an exhibition on Oceanian cultures, the first attempt by a Korean institution to focus on regions in the South Pacific spanning the East and Western hemispheres. 'Mana Moana: Arts of the Great Ocean, Oceania' looks through some 180 items from the 18th century like canoes, the high-priority survival object essential to the Maori people, New Zealand's Indigenous population. Gloves adorned with shark teeth, hooks in the shape of human faces and headgear made of spines from porcupine fish shed light on everyday life back then. Pearl shells and necklaces made of hairs or jade — the symbol of honor and authority — show how Oceanians viewed beauty and attached deeper meaning to it. The exhibition, which opened Wednesday, is thematically arranged in three sections: seas, islands and lands. 'The arrangement reflects the way of life Oceanians must have embraced. Each space is unique. So are artifacts associated with it,' the museum said. The exhibit further aims to rethink what it means to 'connect and coexist' with the future, said Kim Jae-hong, the NMK director general. 'The way the islands groups within the vast expanse of the South Pacific Ocean remain connected and how they prepare to ride out future challenges facing them are the conversation we want to put out,' Kim said, citing finding inspiration for answers to climate change as doable via the presentation. 'Pacific island nations offer inspiration to some of the crises landlocked countries grapple with,' Kim added. Kim, who took over the current role in July last year, has since doubled down on ramping up the museum's global outreach. The latest exhibition, jointly organized with the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, is an effort to that end, according to Kim. 'Showcasing each people's original culture and everything in coexistence with it is what we want to express at this exhibition,' said Emmanuel Kasarherou, president of the the Quai Branly Museum, who is of Melanesian descent. After closing on Sept. 14, the exhibition will travel to the Jeonnam Museum of Art in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, from Sept. 30 to Dec. 28.
Vogue Singapore
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
The best museums to visit in Seoul—from art to food
@leeummuseumofart There's plenty to look forward to when visiting the city of Seoul, South Korea. Its booming entertainment scene, for one, thanks to the massive forces that are K-pop and K-dramas. Buzzy pop-ups and conceptual stores are dotted throughout the city's charming enclaves, belonging to the nation's coolest beauty and fashion brands. Then there's the dining scene, from the street food found in tented roadside pochas and traditional markets, to the city's eclectic cafes and vibrant fine-dining offerings. It's a city where tradition and innovation exist side-by-side—quite literally, as rows of hanoks and majestic palaces sit amidst skyscrapers and modern technological marvels. If you're seeking to gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture, there's no better place to do so than the city's many museums. Seoul has one of Asia's most dynamic art scenes—evident in events such as the rising international art fair Frieze Seoul—and this certainly comes through in the city's various art museums, which spotlight everything from photography to traditional craft. Beyond that, get a glimpse of Korea's rich culture through exhibitions dedicated to its history and its food. For those planning a trip to the Korean capital, we round up the best museums to visit whilst in Seoul. @seoulmuseumofcraftart 1 / 7 Seoul Museum of Craft Art While crafts like embroidery or metalwork might not have been as recognised as fine art mediums, the Seoul Museum of Craft Art seeks to change this. Housed in what was previously Pungmoon Girls' High School, the museum shines a spotlight on Korean crafts both traditional and contemporary. From embroidery to ceramics, a wide range of mediums showcase the technical, creative, practical and cultural value of craft. Seoul Museum of Craft Art , 4 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea @nationalmuseums_korea 2 / 7 National Museum of Korea This behemoth of a museum is the one to visit if you can only spare the time for one. With over 13,000 works on display at any given time, it spans three floors, delving into the many facets of Korean history, culture and art. Within its premises, you'll also find immersive digital spaces, a children's museum full of multi-sensory interactive experiences and expansive outdoor grounds. National Museum of Korea , 137 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04383 @museumkimchikan 3 / 7 Museum Kimchikan A side dish consisting of salted and fermented vegetables, kimchi is a quintessential part of Korean culture—a staple in its cuisine since the first century. Nestled amidst the teahouses and traditional craft shops of Insadong, Museum Kimchichan is where you can learn all about the dish, from its evolution through the years to the communal nature of its preparation. Sample different kimchi varieties, discover all the ways it can be used in cooking, and try your hand at making the dish on your own in the museum's short kimchi-making workshops. Museum Kimchikan , 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea @museumhanmi 4 / 7 Museum Hanmi A must-visit for photography enthusiasts, Museum Hanmi was founded in 2003 with the intention to develop domestic photography and revitalise it as an art form—although its curation has expanded to also include works of new media. A vast collection of more than 20,000 film rolls and prints are housed here, with a cold-storage space in the facility to ensure that vintage photographic prints are well preserved. Museum Hanmi , 45, Samcheong-ro 9-gil, Jongro-gu, Seoul @leeummuseumofart 5 / 7 Leeum Museum of Art Known for being one of the best private museums in South Korea, you'll find two distinct types of art at the Leeum Museum of Art. The first building features a collection of traditional Korean art—including calligraphy, ceramics and metal craftwork—of which 36 pieces are designated national treasures. The second houses modern art from both Korean and international artists, a clear contrast to the museum's traditional counterpart to illustrate the new mediums and styles that contemporary art today is evolving towards. Leeum Museum of Art , 60-16, Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04348 @artsonje_center 6 / 7 Art Sonje Center Artistic innovation and cultural diversity lies at the heart of Seoul's Art Sonje Center—which focuses on introducing international art to Korean audiences, as well as growing Korean art on a global scale. Situated in Samcheong-dong, a neighborhood filled with buzzy art galleries, cafes and boutiques, the museum is known for its diverse range of arts programs—from exhibitions and performances to screenings and talks. Art Sonje Center , 87 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea @amorepacificmuseum 7 / 7 Amorepacific Museum of Art What started as the private art collection of Amorepacific founder Sungwhan Suh is now the Amorepacific Museum of Art. Located in the architectural wonder that is the new Amorepacific headquarters, the museum houses art both traditional and contemporary—many of which relate to beauty and fashion. In the same building, you'll also find a library dedicated to over 10,000 catalogues of exhibitions worldwide. Amorepacific Museum of Art , 100 Hangang-daero, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
Korea Herald
23-04-2025
- Korea Herald
Look inside Joseon queen's sleeping chamber
Palace tours offering a rare glimpse inside the queen's sleeping chamber, Gyotaejeon, at Gyeongbokgung, one of the five Joseon-era (1392-1910) palaces, will be available from May 8 to July 27. On display at Gyotaejeon, restored in 1995, will be royal household items as well as replicas of two wall paintings installed last year. The original paintings are held at the National Museum of Korea. The paintings of a monkey family and a pair of tropical birds symbolize a wish for a happy and fulfilling royal marriage. The Italian fashion house Gucci funded their recreation through a 270 million won ($190,000) project. The Korea Heritage Service, the agency overseeing nationally significant historic sites and objects, said the tours will mark the 30th anniversary of the hall's restoration. A KHS official recommended taking a close look at 'ondol,' the Korean underfloor heating system, and the small garden adjacent to the hall during the tour. Online reservations will open at 2 p.m., April 30, at The 20-minute tours will run ten times daily. Each tour is limited to 15 persons.
Korea Herald
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Museum chief talks national identity, global profile
Exhibits on Joseon art, Adm. Yi Sun-sin reminder of Korean identity, says NMK director general Kim Jae-hong For the National Museum of Korea, conveying the national identity of Korea is a starting point to demonstrating and informing about culture, according to the museum's general director, Kim Jae-hong. In an interview with The Korea Herald on April 11, Kim emphasized curating exhibitions quintessentially Korean. "This year is all the more meaningful to us and the country," Kim said, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. The "Art of Early Joseon" exhibit, running June through August, is one of the highlights of the museum's calendar this year. 'The early years of Joseon (1392-1910) were foundational to modern-day Korea, because they shaped the Korean identity," Kim said about the first 200 years of Joseon that the exhibition covers, noting that "the social fabric as well as physical borders" of Korea had been established by then. Some 300 items -- from royal paintings to ceramics as well as Buddhist art -- will introduce visitors to an era that has been much overlooked despite its significance, according to Kim. Director Kim identified "innovation" as the takeaway from the exhibition, alluding to initiative and vibrancy that the Joseon people projected as they fostered what would become Korea. Chief curator of fine art Kim Hae-won believes it is art that best captures such energy sparked by a new beginning. From November to March next year, the museum will explore national identity in the context of peace with some 100 objects related to Adm. Yi Sun-sin. Outgunned, the legendary naval commander fought off Japanese invaders in the 16th century, making him a textbook example of perseverance in the face of struggles. "The exhibition encourages reflection on the pursuit of peace in the face of adversity," Kim said, adding he believes it could lead to introspection on who Koreans are and have been. A curator with a career spanning nearly two decades at the NMK, Director Kim isn't overlooking potential collaborations with museums abroad to make the NMK truly international. 'Korean Moon Jars,' co-curated by NMK and the Denver Art Museum, is running at the Denver Art Museum in the US, while 'Special Exhibition on Korean Culture' is showing Korean crafts, ceramics and paintings spanning from ancient to modern times at the Dresden State Art Collections, which comprises 15 museums in Germany. For the exhibition, the NMK loaned 349 of the 359 objects on display. The monthslong exhibitions both launched in March. An upcoming exhibition at the NMK is a testament to Kim's commitment to going global. "Mana Moana: Arts of the Great Ocean, Oceania," opening April 30, will focus on Oceanian culture in the first such exhibition by a museum in Korea. It is a joint exhibition with the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, which has loaned artifacts related to Pacific island nations. After closing on Sept. 14, the exhibition will travel to the Jeonnam Museum of Art in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, from Sept. 30 to Dec. 28. According to Kim, collaborations with foreign museums help promote Korean culture and facilitate the NMK to start conversations about global solutions to the challenges facing many nations. Kim hopes to see the Oceania exhibit deepen public discussion on diverse cultures and how they deal with global issues like climate change. "Pacific Island nations offer inspiration to some of the crises landlocked countries grapple with," Kim said. The NMK cannot stay "boxed in," Kim said, elaborating that outreach to a global audience should take many forms. In November, the museum will launch a permanent exhibition gallery dedicated to the Islamic world, a first for a museum in Korea. The Ninety-six objects on view will be on loan from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar. Expansion does not end there, Kim said, adding that discussions are underway for a room on African culture.
