I attended last night a preview of the opening of The Korea Gallery at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Notwithstanding the breathless tone with which the event was covered in the Korean media, it's actually a small wing on the second floor displaying about 85 artifacts and artworks.
Some of the artworks are stunning. I particularly like the calligraphy pieces, and, strangely, the oil paintings by an artist - his/her name escapes me now - that depict the Korean countryside. But overall, it lacks focus. It's a mixed bag of items that one can imagine the Korean ministry of culture/tourism might have put together for a national PR campaign - ranging from elaborate hanbok, ancient pottery and photos of golfer Se-ri Park and 2002 World Cup scenes.
The gallery's tone - as well as that of the Korean bureaucrats who were there to present it - was a bit too insecure for my taste. The bureaucrats, including its ambassador to the U.S., made drony, incomprehensible speeches, with more than one reminding you that hallyu or "the Korean Wave" - whatever that means - really exists and that Korea is the 11th largest economy in the world. Art took a backseat to nationalism during the night.
- Roger in DC
1 comment:
Good post.
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