Beomeosa Seongbo Museum, Ven. Hyeonjin's 'A-Bul' and Kim Jongseop Buddhist Painter's 'National Mountain Spirit Paintings Reappraisal Exhibition' Opens

Opening of the Special Exhibition at Beomeosa Seongbo Museum 2nd Floor Planning Exhibition Hall on the 12th... Exhibition until the 24th

The Geumjeong Chongnim Beomeosa Sacred Relics Museum (Director Ven. Jeong-o) will open an exhibition on the 12th at 2 PM featuring Ven. Hyeonjin (Head Monk of Mungyeong Hyeonjinam) with his work ‘我佛 (I am Buddha)’ and Kim Jong-seop (Holder of Gyeongbuk Intangible Cultural Heritage Buddhist Painting Artisan, Operator of Gwaneum Buddhist Art Research Institute) with a reexamination exhibition of nationwide Sanshin (Mountain Spirit) paintings.

This exhibition offers an opportunity to see traditional Buddhist paintings by artisan Kim Jong-seop alongside reinterpretations of Buddhist paintings by Ven. Hyeonjin, who is also active as an art and music psychotherapist, all in one space.

Artisan Kim Jong-seop is a disciple of Ilseop, who inherited the tradition of Geumho Yakyo, a representative Buddhist painting style of the late Joseon period. The Ilseop lineage, from Geumho Yakyo to Ilseop, preserves and transmits Korean Buddhist art. In this exhibition, Kim Jong-seop presents over 25 recreated Sanshin paintings from temples nationwide. A recreated Arhat painting exhibition is planned for 2026.

Work by Kim Jongseop.

Ven. Hyeonjin is currently creating works at Mungyeong Hyeonjinam and paints Buddhas with a friendly smile as if they are actually facing the viewer.

Also active as an art and music psychotherapist, Ven. Hyeonjin will showcase about 33 works that provide healing and peace of mind to the public, including pieces from the ‘Yeongsan Hoesang Festival’ at this exhibition.

Sanhae Ven. Jeong-o, Head Monk of Geumjeong Chongnim Beomeosa and Director of Beomeosa Sacred Relics Museum, expressed gratitude, saying, “I would like to thank artisan Kim Jong-seop and Ven. Hyeonjin for creating a meaningful occasion at the Beomeosa Sacred Relics Museum. After Ipdong (the beginning of winter), the air has become noticeably colder, signaling the time to wrap up a year full of many events. I hope that through art, the Buddha’s blessings will widely spread and bring peace to all.”

The exhibition will run for two weeks from the 12th to the 24th.

Ven. Hyeonjin's Work at Yeongsan Hoesang Festival.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.