Exhibit reveals secret of portraits

Exhibit reveals secret of portraits

“Self-portrait of Yun Du-seo” By Chung Ah-young Peer into some interesting faces as the National Museum of Korea is currently displaying some 200 portraits by master painters such as Kim Hong-do and 16th-century Dutch artist Peter Paul Rubens. Titled “The Secret of the Joseon Portraits,” the exhibition also features works by Yi Myeong-gi, Kim Hong-do, Park Dong-bo, Kim Hee-gyeom, Yi Han-cheol and Chae Yong-shin, who were representative painters of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). Consisting of four sections — “Heaven & Earth,” “Humaneness, Rightness, Propriety and Wisdom,” “Individual Expression” and “Photography, a New Way to View the World,” a wide variety of expressions can be viewed. The first two sections include portraits produced by the royal court, the major force behind the development of portraiture at the time. Works that reflect the relationship between the king and his subjects under the concept of the “three bonds and fiverelationships” of Confucianism are incorporated. The “Portrait of King Taejo (1335-1408),” which was repainted in 1872 by royal artists such as Jo Jung-muk, Park Gi-jun, Baek Eun-bae and Yu Suk, features the king’s blue robe, reflecting the remnants of Goryeo customs, according to the “Sukjong Sillok (Annals of King Sukjong).” The portrait exudes solemn and flamboyant beauty, contrasting the blue robe and the red throne as the typical style of royal portraits popular during the early Joseon period. Parts 3 and 4 focus on the beauty of form and characteristics that appeared in Joseon portraiture. The sections present the departure from tradition, reflecting more individualistic and unique styles and at the same time showing the declining process of the portraits with the introduction of photographs. “Self-portrait of Yun Du-seo (1688-1715)” is regarded as one of the masterpieces in Korean art history, marked by the delicate depiction of the scholar’s outside and the expression of the inner world. The museum said that the highlights of the event are the two works by Yi Myeong-gi, one of Joseon’s top portrait painters, and Peter Paul Rubens, the Dutch painter. The exhibition juxtaposes the two portraits “Portrait of Seo Jik-su” by Yi and “A Man Wearing Hanbok” by Rubens to compare their styles. The figure in “A Man Wearing Hanbok” is known as Antonio Corea who was taken captive by the Japanese during the Japanese invasion of Joseon in 1592. Another theory argues that he was a high-ranking government officer at the time who worked for a Dutch trade company in Japan in 1606-1621. A small ship drawn beside him supports that he was a visitor from a distant country. “Portrait of Hwang Hyeon” was drawn by painter Chae Yong-shin in 1911 after Hwang, an independent fighter, killed himself out of despair when Joseon was forcibly annexed by the Japanese. The portrait was based on Hwang’s photograph taken in 1909. In the painting, Hwang’s expression is solid and confident as a high-spirited literati and a patriot. Chae captures the inner state of the model in his portrait, which photography couldn’t express. “The Secret of the Joseon Portraits” is an important exhibition not only because it shows new directions for research into the subject of Joseon portraiture but it is also expected to mark a turning point in the analysis of portraits according to period and the use of historical materials. To boost visitors’ understanding of the production process and the function of portraits from the Joseon period, the exhibition features the recreation of a “yeongdang,” a shrine for the portrait of an eminent person, and a display of the related clothing. Storytelling services to help visitors better understand the history and culture of the Joseon period and experience the familiar historical figures such as Jeong Mong-ju and Yi Sun-shin are offered as well. Comparatively, Moon Dong-su, curator of the exhibition, said that the Korean portraits are more humble than the bold Chinese ones and more moderate than the delicate Japanese ones. “The Joseon portraits are the greatest feat in Korean art history, surpassing the Western portraits based on realism by capturing the human souls and personality through candid touches,” the curator said. The exhibition runs through Nov. 6. For more information, visit www.museum.go.kr.

INDIA Archdiocese of Mumbai launches first historical museum - Asia News

Historical, artistic, cultural and religious artefacts, dating back to the 16th century. For Card. Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, the museum "celebrates freedom of religion, bears witness to the search for God in India and is an instrument of evangelization for the young." The museum also celebrates the 125th anniversary of the archdiocese.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The first historical museum of the Archdiocese of Mumbai is a "celebration of our history" and an "instrument of evangelization for the young generation," according to Card. Oswald Gracias, archbishop of the diocese. Inaugurated yesterday and set in the St. Pius seminary in Goregaon, the museum contains a collection of artefacts - the oldest dating back to the 16th century - belonging to the spiritual tradition of India. The museum also celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Mumbai, which occured on 1st September 1886 under the papal bull Humanae Salutis by Pope Leo XIII.

"The museum - explains, Card. Gracias to AsiaNews - shows our historical, artistic, cultural and religious patrimony, the authentic roots of our faith". According to the archbishop, the museum will be a real "instrument of evangelization, especially for younger people. Each of these works of art has a profound message for all of us, they reveal how artists of the time saw and lived their faith. "

A timeline was painted on the wall of the museum, showing the stages of Christianity in the region from 6 AD onwards. Many of the scenes represented are imbued with elements of the rich Indian spiritual tradition, "which are part - Card. Gracias explains - of our family culture, our ethos. In this sense, the museum celebrates religious freedom and witnesses the search for God in India. "

"What we want - the Archbishop concludes - is to show our brothers and sisters of other religions and help them understand that Christianity is no stranger. Indian Christianity has existed for thousands of years. We must continue that journey of faith which for thousands of years was lived with joy, freedom, peace and harmony

The many aspects of Devi - Times Of India

Uma Nair reports on an exhibition on the Mother Goddess at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A small exhibition that is a cornucopia of artistic endeavour, gorgeous goddesses and soul stirring antiquity – New York City's Metropolitan Museum's jewel-like little display shows off 'Mother India: The Goddess in Indian Painting'.

The goddess has held the interest of artists since long; exhibitions of such artworks have been an important part of the circuit across countries. One such show was held at the Smithsonian, Washington, in 1999. Curated by Vidya Dehejia, the show dealt with the evolution of Devi through the ages. Each segment revealed that as Hinduism evolved and changed through the centuries, the roles and functions of Hindu goddesses also went through dramatic changes. This show speaks in the mood of a little oyster of recall.