Exhibit Presents Biblical, Mythical Images
By Lee Hwan-hee
Staff Reporter
If you're in the mood for some art, but want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul, the exhibition "Reading the Bible and Myths through Images-Old Master Prints," now going on at Goyang SPART Complex & Park might be for you. There are about 100 or so prints made from engravings, and the images are familiar ones from Biblical tales and Western mythology, such as "The Last Supper'' and "Cupid and Psyche.''
The exhibition might be ideal for those who find modern art inaccessible, or those who are just interested in the Bible and mythology. In fact, it was originally intended for students on summer break, but as kids start to go back to school you may want to enjoy the works on your own, as the exhibition will last till Sept. 11.
But a word of gentle warning should be in order when you see the two names and two dates written next to each of the artworks. For instance, on "The Flagellation of Christ," you will find the names Caravaggio and Ferdinand Piloty; or on "The Last Supper," you will find the names Leonardo Da Vinci and Raphael Morghen, and so on. These prints were not made by Caravaggio and Leonardo, but by the latter gentlemen, a few centuries after the appearance of the original paintings.
In other words, the prints in the exhibition are, as the brochure explains, mostly reproductive prints of famous paintings. But you will notice some prints were created much closer to the corresponding paintings in terms of dates. They were so because artists such as Titian, Raphael and Rubens actually collaborated with printmakers.
Still, don't despair, as these prints are well worth looking at for their own merit. They give more of an intimate feeling than paintings do because they are much smaller in size. In fact they very much resemble book illustrations. And you'll also be reminded of paper currency, because on closer inspection you can see that the images are not rendered by lines but by clusters of dots and spaces.
If you are disappointed, however, that the original paintings are out of your reach, this exhibition might make you more of an art buff, as it definitely makes you long to see the originals.
The images are usually very recognizable, as the events and stories depicted are some of the most essential ones in Western civilization.
For instance, "Cupid and Psyche" by Francois Godefroy, at the exhibition, is a reproduction of the painting of the same name by Francois Gerard, which is commonly found on art posters or Hallmark Valentine's Day cards.
Goyang SPART Complex & Park can be reached by subway line no. 3. Get off at Wondang station and find exit 4. While the place is not difficult to find, it will take a good 15-minute walk from the station. The tickets cost 4,000 Won for adults and 3,000 Won for students. For more information, visit www.artgy.or.kr.