“Endless Landscape: Digitally Reimagined Korean Art” celebrates Korean culture and 75 years of friendship between Korea and the Philippines

The National Museum of Korea (Director General: Yoon Sung Yong) is presenting “Endless Landscape: Digitally Reimagined Korean Art” at the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (Director: Kim Myeongjin). This exhibition features immersive video works using new digital technologies. The event will run from January 19 through June 29, 2024.

National Museum of Korea’s “Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program” in the Philippines

Filipinos have a deep interest in Korean pop culture, which can be seen in their support for K-pop and K-dramas. However, the absence of Korean galleries or museums makes it hard for local audiences to experience traditional Korean culture. To help remedy this, the National Museum of Korea is promoting customized support programs to fit different countries. This digitally reimagined exhibition is the first outcome of the National Museum of Korea’s “Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program”.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines. The exhibition not only helps educate about Korean culture but also commemorates the long-standing friendship between the two countries. The celebration includes a Korea Festival and K-drama OST Concert.

These performances will help expand the exhibition’s impact and visitors’ experience. In collaboration with the NCCA, there will also be monthly house concerts featuring Filipino artists. This will further strengthen cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

A Unique Exhibition of K-Culture Marked by an Intersection of the Past and Present 

National Museum of Korea and the Chuncheon National Museum presented four video works using new digital technologies. The works – respectively entitled “Endless Mountains and Rivers,” “Royal Processions with the People,” “Pillars of Divinity, Chongseok Rocks,” and “Peonies in Bloom” – are reinterpretations of traditional Korean paintings. It offers an interesting approach to engaging in traditional Korean paintings, which are usually inaccessible without a visit to Korea.

An expansive panorama will welcome visitors. They will be able to appreciate the sight while walking, helping with the immersion. Visitors will be able to see unique landscapes, that embody the history and aura of Korean traditional paintings. This approach of using the present technology to share cultural heritage from the past will provide an unforgettable experience.

First video: “Endless Mountains and Rivers: A Prosperous World Unfolds in Nature”

The first video is based on Yi Inmun’s (court painter, 1745-after 1824) “Endless Mountains and Rivers”. This rendition paints a vivid image of a prosperous world which people in the late Joseon Dynasty seek to find.

Second video: “Royal Processions with the People”

The second video is based on the official uigwe (royal protocols) records of the Joseon royal court’s ceremonies. It shows a world of majestic royal rites centered on the processions in Suwon by King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1880), the 22nd King of the Joseon Dynasty. 

Third video: “Pillars of Divinity, Chongseok Rocks”

The third video is based on the spectacular view of Chongseok Rocks in Tongcheon, Gangwondo Province. It is based on Kim Gyujin’s (painter and calligrapher, 1868-1933) “Scenic View of Chongseok Rocks”. The painting was commissioned by Emperor Sunjong, the second ruler of the Korean Empire (1897-1910), and decorated Heejeongdang Hall, at Changdeokgung Palace.

Fourth video: “Peonies in Bloom”

The fourth and last video is based on a two-panel painting of peony flowers in the National Museum of Korea collection. It was originally installed in a palace building during the Joseon Dynasty. Peonies were celebrated as ‘the king of flowers’, and served as an object of admiration, a symbol of wealth. It is also an important motif for royal rites and architecture. 

H.E. Lee Sang-hwa, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines, mentioned,

“As the first event to celebrate 75 years of friendship between Korea and the Philippines, this exhibition provides a great opportunity for meaningful cultural exchanges between our two countries. I hope that it will showcase Korea’s rich tradition and substantiate its position as a digital powerhouse that can further strengthen our bilateral partnership.”

The National Museum of Korea will continue to carry out projects as part of its Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program. This is to ensure the preservation and utilization of Korean galleries and cultural heritage located abroad. It is hoped that this exhibition will provide an opportunity for closer engagement with Korean art and culture. The museum will strive to promote Korean culture that covers traditional and contemporary contexts.

Photos from the Korean Cultural Center