The cultural heritage and artworks donated to the state by the late Lee Kun-hee, former chairman of Samsung Group, will be showcased in London, revealing 2,000 years of Korean history and culture. The exhibition will feature a range of pieces, from the national treasure 'Inwangjesaekdo' to ancient artifacts and works by Nam June Paik.
The National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art announced on September 21 that they will hold the overseas touring exhibition 'Korea: 2,000 Years of Creativity' at the British Museum in London from October 1 to January 31 next year.
This overseas tour is based on the special exhibition 'An Invitation from a Collector,' which was jointly planned by the two institutions to commemorate the state donation by Lee Kun-hee's family in 2021. This will be the third and final overseas tour, following exhibitions at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., in November last year and the Chicago Museum in March this year.
The exhibition will feature a total of 164 items from 79 pieces in the National Museum of Korea and 15 from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. It includes 27 items from 10 national treasures and 23 items from 13 treasures. Notably, the national treasure 'Daegu Bisandong Bronze Age' will be publicly displayed for the first time during this tour.
The exhibition space at the British Museum will feature a time tunnel that traces the flow of Korean history, allowing visitors to follow the chronological progression of the exhibits. While the previous exhibitions in the U.S. focused on Lee Kun-hee's state donation and the public enjoyment of art, the London exhibition will concentrate on Korea itself.
The first section, 'Wealth and Power,' showcases archaeological and Buddhist artifacts from the early Iron Age to Unified Silla, illustrating the formation and development of ancient states. This section significantly enhances the archaeological artifacts compared to the previous U.S. exhibitions, featuring items such as the 'Wing-shaped Crown Ornament,' 'Gold Shoes,' and 'Tomb Figurine Pottery.'
The second section, 'Wisdom and Beauty,' highlights Goryeo Buddhist paintings, sutra copying, celadon, and metal crafts, showcasing the techniques and aesthetics of the Goryeo period. The third section, 'Learning and Enjoyment,' examines the scholarship and lives of Confucian scholars during the Joseon Dynasty, presenting late Joseon paintings such as Jeong Seon's 'Inwangjesaekdo' and Kim Hong-do's 'Chuseongbudo.'
The fourth section, 'Individuality and Society,' addresses the changing dynamics of individuals and communities from the Korean Empire to modern times, featuring works by artists such as Park Soo-keun, Kim Whanki, Lee Jung-seob, and Chang Ucchin, along with pieces by Nam June Paik, Park No-soo, Park Rae-hyun, and Park Saeng-gwang.
Familiar works will also attract attention, including 'Ilwolobakdo' and 'Magpie and Tiger,' which gained popularity in the animated series 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' last year. The vibrant 'Ilwolobakdo' will adorn the exhibition poster.
In modern and contemporary art, the exhibition will showcase 'Paradise' (1936), an eight-panel folding screen painting by the first-generation female Western painter Nam June Paik, and Shin Hak-chul's approximately 3.9-meter tall work 'Korean Modern History - Comprehensive' (1982-83), which was not included in the previous U.S. exhibition. The exhibition will conclude with Nam June Paik's video sculpture 'Brahms' (1993).
Director Yoo Hong-jun stated, 'In the UK, we will present a rich composition that includes more national treasures and artifacts, telling a new story of Korea.' He expressed hope that many K-culture fans from the UK and across Europe will visit London to explore the roots of K-culture.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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