Exhibition will open Dongdaemun center
A journalist examines a painting by Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) painter Jang Seung-eop on Tuesday during a media preview of the “Gansong Culture Exhibition,” which will open on Friday at the Dongdaemun Design Museum in downtown Seoul. / Korea Times
By Kim Tong-hyung
An exhibition featuring some of the most valuable works in Korean art will highlight a variety of attractions at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the massive culture center that opens in downtown Seoul, Friday.
``The Haerye,’’ a commentary on “Hunminjeongeum,” the original promulgation of the Korean alphabet “Hangul,” produced under King Sejong of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), is the gem of the ``Gansong Culture Exhibition’’ at DDP’s Design Museum.
Also to be displayed are two representative pieces of Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392)-era celadon ― the greenish, blue ``maebyeong’’ (plum vase), notable for its curled mouth rim, round shoulder and constricted waist, and the monkey-shaped ink holder, both listed as national treasures. Among Joseon Kingdom era items, Shin Yun-bok’s ``A Scenery on Dano Day’’ is the most famous.
“The Haerye,” a commentary on “Hunminjeongeum,” the original promulgation of the Korean alphabet “Hangul,” highlights “Gansong Culture Exhibition” at DDP’s Design Museum that begins Friday. / Yonhap
The prize works had been kept by the Gansong Art Museum in Seoul. While Gansong has a treasure trove of artwork, it only opens to the public twice a year.
Gangsong, which has fallen into financial trouble in recent years, reached an agreement with the Seoul Design Center last year to have a selection of its collection displayed at the DDP gallery for the next three years.
From July, the DDP will also be displaying Shin’s ``Portrait of a Beauty,’’ which depicts a woman with a round face, often cited as the most important painting remaining from the Joseon era.
The basic entrance fee for the DDP museum is 8,000 won ($7) but may be cheaper depending on exhibition discounts.