Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
National Museum exhibits UK portrait collection for 1st time in Korea
The portrait “The Capel Family” owned by the National Portrait Gallery, London, is being displayed at the National Museum of Korea through Aug. 15. Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery, London
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
A portrait of Ed Sheeran / Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery, London
The National Museum of Korea (NMK) has unveiled 78 portraits of the National Portrait Gallery, London created between the 16th century and 21st century.
The large-scale exhibition, titled “Icons and Identities from the National Portrait Gallery, London,” is the first of its kind in Korea and will run through Aug. 15, featuring portraits of well-known and historic figures such as William Shakespeare, Queen Elizabeth I, Charles Darwin, Issac Newton, the Beetles and Ed Sheeran. The exhibition aims to offer a rare opportunity to visitors through portraits of figures who have shaped the history and culture of Britain and the world over the past 500 years.
Consisting of five themes ― “Fame,” “Power,” “Love and Loss,” “Innovation,” and “Identity & Self-portrait” ― the exhibition also shows the changes in styles ranging from paintings executed on wooden panels dating back to the sixteenth century through to holographic imagery of the present.
“This special exhibition was organized in the midst of the global COVID-19 crisis. We hope it will serve to assuage our thirst for the arts and culture from other parts of the world that we have been missing over the past year,” Min Byoung-chan, director general of the National Museum of Korea, said in a statement.
Director Nicholas Cullinan of the National Portrait Gallery, London was also quoted as saying, “Icons and Identities offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see a selection of the gallery's most cherished portraits together internationally, while the building in London is temporarily closed for our Inspiring People redevelopment. It is the first time that many of these works have left the U.K. and the first time that out exceptional collection will travel to Korea, giving audiences there an unprecedented opportunity to encounter some of the most accomplished portraits produced in the last five hundred years.”
Seen is Korea's National Treasure No. 299, a giant hanging scroll painting of Rocana Buddha being displayed in the new exhibition, “The Buddha Illuminates the World,” at the National Museum of Korea (NMK). Courtesy of NMK
Meanwhile, the NMK also unveiled Korea's National Treasure No. 299, a giant hanging scroll painting of Rocana Buddha, in its new exhibition, “The Buddha Illuminates the World,” which will run through Sept. 26 in celebration of Buddha's birthday which falls on May 19.
The 17th-century painting called “gwaebul” has never been taken to Seoul before from Sinwonsa Temple where it has been preserved. The temple has long been known as a sacred place to pray for national peace and well-being.
Painted on a canvas made by joining 19 pieces of hemp cloth, it is some 10 meters high and 6.5 meters wide, and weighs over 100 kilograms, according to the NMK.
The painting displays the characteristics of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and Buddhist artwork. The large hanging scrolls for massive outdoor temple events were created by monk artists. When not in use, the scrolls are kept in wooden containers at temple halls, so they are not ordinarily available for public viewing, according to the NMK.