Namwon-si Hosts 'Seokbul Statue Photo Exhibition' at Local Museum

Published 28 Jul.2021 15:19(KST)

[Namwon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Young-kwon] Jeonbuk Namwon City (Mayor Lee Hwan-joo) announced on the 28th that it will hold a photo exhibition of Namwon's Buddhist relics, 'Seokbul Statue (石佛像)', at the Local Museum located within Chunhyang Theme Park from the 28th to September 1.

The Seokbul Statue photo exhibition showcases about 20 photographic materials of Seokbul statues scattered throughout the region.

Namwon is a land of culture and arts with various relics and artifacts distributed to the extent that it is called an open-air museum, and in terms of Buddhist relics, various Buddha statues, Seokbul statues, and Buddhist artworks spanning different eras are scattered.

This photo exhibition is the second planned exhibition following the Buddha statue designated cultural heritage photo exhibition in 2015, aiming to introduce Seokbul statues that were not introduced at that time and those rediscovered since the 2010s.

Also featured are standing Seokbul statues scattered across various places in Namwon such as Nojeokbong, Deogeumam, Saseok-ri, Jebawi, Sachon-ri, Yuam-ri site, Hogiri, Sinheung site, Singye-ri Wolgye, Naecheok-dong, Seogok-ri, Yongjeong, Geungnaksa, Changdeokam, and Deokchiri.

In particular, the Seokbul statues of Wolgye, Sachon-ri, and Yuam-ri site were rediscovered by local researchers after the 2010s and have become known to the general public.

These Seokbul statues span from the Unified Silla period to the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, and as works of outstanding artistic value, they will provide citizens and visitors with a good opportunity to develop interest and curiosity about Buddhist art.

A representative of the Namwon Local Museum said, "We expect this photo exhibition to be a meaningful time to get closer to and understand Buddhist culture through the Seokbul statues, Buddhist relics scattered across various hard-to-visit places in Namwon."