Gansong Art Museum Bohwagak Reopens After 7 Years... Exhibition 'Bohwasubo' Showcases 32 Cultural Assets

Min Yeong-ik, Unminancheop. Photo by Kansong Art Museum

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Kansong Art Museum, a representative private art museum in Seoul’s Seongbuk-gu, will open its doors to the general public for the first time in over seven years through an exhibition.

Kansong Art Museum announced on the 15th that it will hold a special exhibition titled "Bohwasubo (寶華修補) - Rediscovering Kansong’s Treasures" from the 16th until June 5th in the Bohwagak exhibition hall of the Kansong Art Museum.

Previously, Kansong Art Museum had temporarily suspended exhibitions at Bohwagak while holding various special exhibitions at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) for five years starting in 2014.

The exhibition’s theme, Bohwasubo, combines 'Bohwa,' meaning precious refinement, and 'Subo,' which refers to the act of repairing old things and filling in what is lacking.

This exhibition showcases 32 items from 8 non-designated cultural properties that have undergone preservation treatment through the Cultural Heritage Administration’s "Support Project for Preservation Management of Large Collections of Cultural Properties." Non-designated cultural properties are those not classified as National Treasures or Treasures.

Since 2020, Kansong Art Museum has preserved 150 collected artifacts through the Cultural Heritage Administration’s support project. This exhibition selectively reveals cultural properties with high potential for future designation and outstanding artistic value.

Among the exhibited works, the "Maeheon Seonsaeng Munjip" (梅軒先生文集), a collection of writings by Kwon Woo (1363?1419), and the "Haedong Myeonghwajip" (海東名畵集), a collection of paintings gathered by Seoknong Kim Gwang-guk (1727?1797), are considered representative artifacts.

Kwon Woo was a disciple of Jeong Mong-ju and a teacher of Jeong In-ji, and the "Maeheon Seonsaeng Munjip" is presumed to be the first edition published in 1452.

Sinsaimdang . Photo by Kansong Art Museum

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The "Haedong Myeonghwajip" includes various paintings such as An Gyeon’s "Churimchongeo," Sim Sa-jeong’s "Samilpo," and Won Myeong-yu’s "Dowonchunsaek." Originally containing 28 paintings, the number increased to 30 after preservation treatment confirmed that Jo Maengbu’s "Yeopgido" and Jo Youngseok’s "Noseunheolgak" originated from this album.

Additionally, the exhibition features "Unminancheop" (芸楣蘭帖), a collection of 72 orchid paintings in ink by Min Yeong-ik; "Podaehwasang" (布袋和尙), a painting by Han Sigak, a prominent 17th-century artist; "Nangwontudo" (?苑偸桃) completed by Kim Hong-do; and "Songhanokseon" (松下鹿仙) by Jang Seung-eop.

A Kansong Art Museum official explained, "Visitors will be able to see new aspects of masterpieces comparable to designated cultural properties. The exhibition title reflects our hope (Subo, 修補) that our precious cultural heritage will remain with us forever through repair and preservation."

Meanwhile, Bohwagak will undergo restoration and maintenance after this exhibition. Bohwagak, registered as a national registered cultural property in 2019, was built in 1938 by Kansong Jeon Hyeongpil (1906?1962) for the preservation and utilization of artworks.

During the exhibition period, a short video capturing the scenery around Bohwagak will be screened in the second-floor exhibition hall without any artifacts on display.

Exhibition visits are conducted by advance reservation through the Kansong Art Museum website. Exhibition explanation programs will be held at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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