Smart Museum of Art University of Chicago

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From the Land of the Morning Calm: Traditions of Korean Art

July 5 – September 9, 2012

Over thousands of years, traditional Korean society has forged a unique artistic heritage out of a blend of foreign ideals and local tastes. Korea’s expansive coastline and geographic position in Asia encouraged an outward focus, and Korean history is marked by periods of intense cultural, technological, and religious exchange with China and Japan (and more recently, the West). This is especially evident in the flourishing ceramic culture of the Goryeo period (918–1392) and in the innovations in literati painting during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910).

Organized around the themes of craft, Buddhism, scholarly art, and modernity, From the Land of the Morning Calm offers a focused look at key components of this complex history of cross-cultural exchange and assimilation. It is the first major exhibition to showcase the Smart’s diverse collection of Korean art and includes nearly fifty works of ceramic, metalwork, sculpture, painting, and calligraphy that date from the late bronze age to the present day.

Photos

Slideshow: On July 14, the Smart hosted a day of Korean dance, food, and art, with performances by the Chicago Korean Dance Company and gallery talks led by Sun-ah Choi and Eleanor Hyun.
 

Curator

Richard A. Born, Smart Museum Senior Curator.

Support

Lead funding for this exhibition is generously provided by the Smart Family Foundation. Major funding is provided by Gay-Young Cho and Christopher Chiu, and Nuveen Investments. Smart Museum exhibitions are supported by Smart Partners.

Presented in the Richard and Mary L. Gray Gallery for Special Exhibitions.

Above: Seon Monk-Painter Haejam, Indra and Heavenly Dragon General, circa 1770s, Opaque mineral pigments, ink, and gold on cloth (hanging scroll, remounted flat on stretched linen. Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago, Purchase, Paul and Miriam Kirkley Fund for Acquisitions, 2009.21.