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Category Archives: Bozar 2008

Crowning glory at the Smile of Buddha

16-Oct-08

Crowning glory at the Smile of Buddha

Matthew Jackson reports from the "Smile of Buddha" exhibition in Brussels I had never been to the Bozar Centre (French: “Palais des Beaux-Arts”) in Belgium prior to the current “Smile of Buddha” exhibition of Korean Buddhist art. It is an impressive place (right) and I highly recommend it if you are ever in Brussels. The exhibition included items that seldom leave Korea, including the Pensive Bodhisattva, certain Koryo Buddhist Paintings, and the Silla Gold Crown. Also included were prints of murals, statuettes and triads, roof tiles, and sculptures and paintings from the Joseon period. One of the exhibition staff told me that he preferred the Koryo to the Joseon period in terms of the art it produced. As a Buddhist, I am inclined ...
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The Pensive Bodhisattva comes to Brussels

06-Oct-08

The Pensive Bodhisattva comes to Brussels

By Matthew Jackson The centrepiece of the Bozar exhibition of Korean Buddhist Art, beginning in Brussels on the 10th of October, will be the Pensive Bodhisattva statue, Korea’s National Treasure No. 83. It is difficult to describe in words why the statue is regarded so highly as a work of Buddhist art, because its qualities consist primarily in simplicity and lack of detail. Although words may be inadequate, the statue’s renown in Asia (not least of all Japan, whose No. 1 national treasure is a near exact wooden copy of the statue) is primarily due to the feelings that it evokes in those who see it. There are various interpretations of the statue’s meaning, but scholars agree that it is intended to depict ...
Also filed in Historical, KSCPP, Permanent displays, Seoul National Museum, Smile of Buddha | Tagged , | Comments (0) »

“Made in Korea” festival in Brussels

05-Oct-08

“Made in Korea” festival in Brussels

The "Made in Korea" festival in Brussels is a big-budget four month perspective of Korea's arts. Centred around the Centre for Fine Arts, this is a unique opportunity to see some of Korea's ancient treasures and also some more contemporary visual and performing arts. Definitely worth a trip to Brussels. First, a summary of some of the one-off performances and events this year 8 October: National Orchestra of Korea opening concert 18 October: Korean Culture in action 1 November: Spiritual Korea: Day of the Dead 24 November: The Imperial Court rituals There's more to come in January and February next year. Next, the exhibitions which run for the full length of the festival: Kim Sooja: Lotus, Zone of Zero 2008 Where? Galerie Ravenstein | Ravensteingalerij When? Daily 10 October 2008 ...
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