The National Museum of Korea is preparing to introduce an array of domestic and international cultures. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – As the year 2024 unfolds, anticipation is growing around the narratives and exhibitions set to grace South Korea’s major museums. The National Museum of Korea, which attracted over 4 million visitors last year, is preparing to introduce an array of domestic and international cultures.
Until mid-April, the museum’s special exhibition hall will host “Tree and Serpent, Early Buddhist Art in India” presenting Buddhist art from Southern India from the 2nd century BC to the 4th century AD.
Until mid-April, the museum’s special exhibition hall will host “Tree and Serpent, Early Buddhist Art in India” (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
This exhibition will feature lesser-known South Indian Buddhist art pieces, including depictions of Siddhartha Gautama, not in human form but symbolized through footprints, space under a tree, or a wheel, along with sculptures of the mythical creature Makara.
In June, the museum will collaborate with the Denver Museum in the U.S. to showcase the culture and art of 19th-century Native Americans.
The museum will also feature an exhibition from July to August, jointly organized with the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of China, as part of the ‘Directors Meeting of National Museums, Korea-China-Japan,’ to be hosted by Korea this year. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
An official from the National Museum of Korea remarked, “These exhibitions are noteworthy as they delve into lesser-known cultures and civilizations. We also plan to organize traveling exhibitions to make them accessible regionally.”
The museum will also feature an exhibition from July to August, jointly organized with the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of China, as part of the ‘Directors Meeting of National Museums, Korea-China-Japan,’ to be hosted by Korea this year.
The cooperative exhibition will focus on lacquerware from the three countries, showcasing traditional lacquer techniques and significant artifacts.
In November, a special exhibition will highlight the historical value and beauty of the Goryeo Dynasty’s sanghyeong celadon.
An official from the National Folk Museum said, “Cats and coffee are familiar and everyday cultural elements. We will tell our stories through ‘objects’ related to cats and coffee.” (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The National Folk Museum of Korea is taking on unique thematic challenges based on folklore studies. In April, an exhibition about mythical cats, and in August, a special exhibition commemorating the 140th anniversary of coffee’s arrival in Korea will be held, both of which are topics the museum has not dealt with before.
An official from the National Folk Museum said, “Cats and coffee are familiar and everyday cultural elements. We will tell our stories through ‘objects’ related to cats and coffee.”
The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is preparing exhibitions that revisit modern history. At the end of next month, a commemorative photo exhibition reviewing the 140-year diplomatic relationship and cooperation between Korea and Italy will open.
The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is preparing exhibitions that revisit modern history. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
From April to August, the museum will focus on coal as the driving force behind Korea’s industrial development and the common fuel of the people. In June, the museum plans to reexamine the stories of soldiers from 16 countries who fought in an unfamiliar land during the Korean War.
Additionally, on the 115th anniversary of An Jung-geun’s assassination of Ito Hirobumi in Harbin in 1909, an exhibition will explore his life and the path of his independence movement.
An official from the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History shared, “Through writings, trial records, and other artifacts, we will examine how An Jung-geun, the person, transformed into An Jung-geun, the hero, within the social and historical context of his time.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
