Beomeosa Seongbo Museum Hosts the 4th Songheon Jeon Kiman Mondo Buddhist Sculpture Exhibition

The Beomeosa Seongbo Museum in Geumjeong-gu, Busan will host the '4th Songheon Jeon Kiman Mondo Buddhist Sculpture Exhibition' from November 19 to 30 on the first floor atrium.

This exhibition is a meaningful opportunity to appreciate the works of Songheon Jeon Kiman, a master who has inherited the skills and spirit of National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 108 (Wood Carving), along with those of his disciples, all in one place.

Songheon Jeon Kiman (born 1929) is an artisan who has continued his work while adhering to the principles of traditional wooden Buddhist sculpture. Since his early thirties, he has devoted himself to Buddhist sculpture, and under the guidance of Monk Seokjeong in the 1980s, he deepened the proportions and formative spirit of Joseon-era Buddhist statues. To this day, he continues to pass down the skills and spirit of wood carving through the training of his students.

The exhibition hall focuses on showcasing the process where the artisan’s touch meets Buddhist devotion. The process of selecting timber and repeatedly chiseling along the grain goes beyond mere technical mastery, becoming a form of spiritual practice. The results are reflected in the vitality and dignity of the Buddhist statues and sacred objects. The disciples, building on this tradition, have established their own artistic languages and present a variety of works, including Buddhist statues, altars, and ritual implements.

Many disciples are participating in this exhibition, including Songheon Jeon Kiman himself, as well as National Intangible Cultural Heritage transmission instructors Oh Geumbaek, Nam Giseol, Jang Youngchun, Lee Bangho, and Hyun Jongjin. The exhibition is organized to provide a comprehensive view of the artistic lineage shared by the master and his students.

Sanhae Jeongoh, Director of the Beomeosa Seongbo Museum, stated, "Wood carving is the process of engraving the Buddha’s enlightenment and compassion into wood. This exhibition will be a space where the artisan’s sweat and devotion meet the audience, creating a complete field of Buddhist spirit."

Jung Hoseok, President of the Songheon Munhohoe, expressed, "I am grateful to present works that uphold the basics, respect, and daily diligence over extravagance, each infused with our own breath upon the master’s principles."

This exhibition is regarded as a meaningful occasion that conveys the tradition of Buddhist sculpture in contemporary language and demonstrates how the lineage of Korean wood carving continues to the next generation.

Beomeosa Seongbo Museum '4th Songheon Jeongiman Mondo Buddhist Sculpture Exhibition' Poster.

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