"Innovation in Early Joseon"... 'New Nation, New Art' Roundtable to Be Held

National Museum of Korea to Host Roundtable Linked to Special Exhibition
August 1, 2:00 p.m.: "Early Joseon, Discussing Innovation"

The National Museum of Korea announced on July 28 that it will hold a roundtable titled "Innovation in Early Joseon" at 2:00 p.m. on August 1 in Lecture Room 2 of the Education Center.

Roundtable "Early Joseon, Talking about Innovation" Poster. National Museum of Korea

This event has been organized as part of the special exhibition "New Nation, New Art: The Grand Exhibition of Early Joseon Art," which runs until August 31. Experts from various fields, including curators and artists, will present the zeitgeist of the 15th and 16th centuries during early Joseon in an accessible and engaging manner.

This roundtable will explore the currents of change in early Joseon by dividing them into five fields: art, history, astronomy, music, and Buddhist art. It will examine how these areas are interconnected and what messages they offer to contemporary society. After presentations by five experts, there will be a panel discussion among the presenters and a Q&A session with the audience.

First, Kim Hyewon, Head of the Art Department at the National Museum of Korea, will introduce the trends in early Joseon art and the process of forming a new aesthetic sensibility, linking her talk with the exhibition under the theme "Changes in Art and Visual Culture of Early Joseon." Next, Song Woongseop, professor at Chongshin University, will discuss "Statecraft and Institutional Innovation in Early Joseon," examining how the national system was organized based on Confucian ideals after the founding of Joseon.

Ji Woongbae, professor at Sejong University, will present on "The Development of Astronomy in Early Joseon from a 21st Century Perspective," highlighting the achievements in science and technology during early Joseon, with a focus on astronomy. Song Hyejin, professor at Sookmyung Women's University, will discuss "The Transformation and Significance of Early Joseon Music," exploring the value and meaning of the "Sejong Sillok Akbo" (Annals of King Sejong: Music Scores). She will explain, within the context of cultural and political history, how early Joseon music established its identity and became a byword for innovation in the history of Korean music.

Finally, Choi Hak, a Buddhist art artist, will present "Early Joseon Buddhist Paintings and Their Modern Reinterpretation." From the perspective of a Buddhist painter, Choi will shed light on the characteristics and outstanding artistry of Buddhist paintings from early Joseon.

This roundtable is open to everyone free of charge, and on-site entry is available without prior registration.

A representative from the National Museum of Korea stated, "The spirit of the times and achievements in each field of early Joseon, as conveyed by these experts, will greatly help visitors understand and approach the special exhibition 'New Nation, New Art: The Grand Exhibition of Early Joseon Art' in greater depth and from multiple perspectives." The representative added, "We expect this to be an opportunity to reflect on how the remarkable innovations of early Joseon became tradition over time and continue to resonate with our lives and spirit today."

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