Sketches at the Exhibit "Gaya Spirit - Iron and Tune"

Pasa Stone Pagoda, the lumps of stones were said to have been the ones of balancing the ship which had carried Indian Princess, Hur Hwang Ok, the legendery queen of the King "Suro" of Gaya Kingdom(A.D. 42-562). The stones was guessed as from abroad not of Korean originated by the quality of reddish color and the smoothness. 

sepia conte, A 4

Gaya pottery, pen, pencil, A 4

iron armor and helmet, A 4

visitors appreciating pottery, sepia conte, 19.5 x 26 cm

sanguine conte, 19.5 x 26 cm

cooking stove, pottery, sepia conte, 19.5 x 26 cm

iron armor and helmet of warriors, sepia conte, 19.5 x 26 cm

Horn cup in the shape of a Warrior on Horseback, 5-6th C, National treasure 275, 

pencil, 19.5 x 26 cm

installation of bars in Gayageum(musical instrument, Gayageum), 

sanguine, sepia conte, 19.5 x 26 cm

crystal necklace

Last week I went to the National Museum of Korea, Yongsan to see the exhibit, Gaya Spirit - Iron and Tune" two times in order to sketch more. All those exhibited assets were great. I was surprised so much looking at their elaborated skill handling earth, iron, glass, and crystal. Sound, media, warrior sculptures, and Gayageum installation seemed to convey the concept of the Gaya Confederacy, coexistence and prosperity. 

지난 주말 이틀간 국립중앙박물관에 가서 "가야 본성 - 칼과 현"을 관람하고 왔습니다. 첫날에는 대충 보고 두째날에도 다 보았다고는 할 수 없으리만치 유물이 많았어요. 그리지는 못했지만 수정목걸이는 참으로 아름답더군요. 28년만에 하는 가야전시라고 합니다. 내년 3월 1일까지 전시 예정이니 많이 관람하시면 좋겠어요.

Sketches at National Museum of Korea, Yongsan, Seoul

National Museum of Korea building beyond Mirror Pond, pen and watercolor crayon, (29.6 x 42cm)

Dear Jazz Orchestra performance on the Open Plaza, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

  a quick sketch of the players of the orchestra, pencil, (29.6 x 42cm)

Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Magoksa Temple(마곡사 괘불), pen and watercolor, 

(21 x 29.6cm)

Iron Statue, Buddha(부처), pencil, (21 x 29.6cm)

exhibition room of donated works on the 2nd floor, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

main hall (Great Hall) of the museum, pen, (21 x 29.6cm)

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Last Saturday, it was a nice day to sketch. The National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관), located in Yongsan, was crowded with visitors who were interested in culture and art. We Seoul urban sketchers had several winter sketching events here. In the summer, the atmosphere of the museum was more lively than in the winter. The great museum is a large cultural facility in the Yongsan Family Park in central Seoul, and we can explore the history of art and enjoy culture regardless of weather conditions. The unique exhibition spaces in the magnificent building and numerous collections and cultural assets of various genres offer a lot of sketching subject. Various special exhibitions, weekend concerts, and harmonious elements of the surrounding landscape and museum buildings are colorful painting materials. Especially, the orchestra concert in the open plaza heightened the cultural festive mood.

I was touched by the craftsmanship of many artists and sketched several scenes that I had not previously painted. And I felt grateful to our ancestors, artists, architects, and citizens who share culture living in the present age. I was sorry that I couldn't draw all the materials, but I left the museum, taking the next chance.

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초여름 국립박물관 스케치는 열린마당 연주회를 곁들인 아름다운 문화 축제였습니다.
수천년 걸쳐 조상의 얼과 예술혼이 깃든 문화유산들~~
하나의 커다란 그릇에 담아 시대의 상징으로 태어난 대형건축물~~
보석같은 소재, 생생한 실물들을 마주보며 마음대로 스케치할 수있는 행운에 오로지 감사할 따름입니다.

Sketches at National Museum of Korea, Yongsan

main hall of the museum, charcoal, A 4

stone buddha, charcoal, A 4

a sketcher drawing the big painting from the Magoksa(temple), ball-point pen, pastels, A 4

a woman looking at the wooden furniture donated by Kim Chong-Hak, pen, sepia conte, A 4

a woman reading the guide in front of a painting, Birobong, the highest peak of Geumgangsan, made on about 1711 by Jeong Seon, outdoor painter of Joseon dynasty, charcoal, A 4

exhibition room of jars, pastels, charcoal, A 4

performance on Dear Jazz Orchestra on the open ground, charcoal, A 4

audience to enjoy the music, charcoal, A 4

guitar player of the orchestra and a kid dancing freely, charcoal, A 4

violin player, charcoal, A 4

The National Museum of Korea looked light and enjoyable far different from the serious atmosphere of old days though the exhibited works have the sublime worth regardless whatever the events happen outdoor. Lots of visitors enjoyed those relics inside and great music outside. It looked very recommendable and admirable that the officials have been taking efforts to change the space to be loved by all generations from kids to senior. I could feel "There will be something to see and enjoy." Successful was to be there yesterday with so many visitors who looked happy so much. 

어제 박물관에서 종래의 딱딱한 분위기와는 다른 문화향연이 있어서 매우 즐거운 시간이었습니다. 멋진 재즈 오케스트라 음악을 즐기는 관중의 모습도 좋았고 더불어 스케치도 할 수 있어 말할 수 없이 기분 좋은 날이었습니다. 참여하신 분들 감사합니다.

sketches at the exhibition "Discoveries from the Sinan Shipwreck", National Museum of Korea, Seoul

 miniature of the ship, 1/10 of original size (34m x 11m x 3.7m, more than 200 tons)

visitors in the museum

 coins and sandalwood (The ship started from China to Japan loading ceramics, metal ware, 28 tons of coins, sandalwood and etc.) 동전과 자단목

 miniature of the bow (배의 선수)

discoveries in seabed (해저 유물들)

 people was looking at the Goryeo Dynasty's ceramics. (고려자기)

shelves full of celadon dishes(left), coins and sandalwood(center) and jars(right)

entrance of the exhibition hall (전시장 입구)

 inside the exhibition hall (전시장 내부)

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( 21x 29.6cm sketchbook, pen and watercolor )

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I visited the National Museum of Korea, Yongsan, Seoul last week. There was a special exhibition "Discoveries from the Sinan Shipwreck"(신안해저선 유물전). I want to quote the introduction written in the brochure for the exhibition as follows.

"The National Museum of Korea proudly presents Discoveries from the Sinan Shipwreck, a special exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the excavation.
Excavation of the Sinan shipwreck began when a local fisherman caught a celadon vase in a net off the coast of Jeungdo, Sinan, Jeollanam-do Province in August 1975. Starting on October 27, 1976, the Bureau of the Cultural Heritage (currently the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea) initiated a full-scale excavation and salvaged a huge quantity of artifacts---amounting to 24,000 pieces. These discoveries from the Sinan Shipwreck are presented in this special exhibition.
The comprehensive special exhibition was organized to present as many artifacts as possible from the Sinan shipwreck. While appreciating these remarkable cultural treasures, visitors can also gain a deeper understanding of the nature of the Sinan ship and fourteenth century trade and exchange of East Asia.
Sunk beneath the sea for around 650 years, the Sinan shipwreck appeared to us like a time capsule, an we hope that this exhibition will serve as a turning point for future research on the shipwreck."

I felt very impressed by the discoveries from the ship sunk on 14 centuries.
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국립중앙박물관의 신안 해저유물전은
타임캡슐처럼 650년만에 나타나서....
그시대의 역사와 문화를 실감하게 하며
스케치하는 좋은 기회였습니다~~

sketches at Noksapyeong Station, Seoul

distant view of Namsan Mountain(남산) from the station

surrounding scenery viewed from pedestrian overpass nearby the station

the glass roof dome of Noksapyeong Station

a scene on the top floor inside the station

another view on the top floor

main stairway and escalators viewed from the lower floor

main stairway and escalators viewed from the top floor

subway platform(승강장) on the lowest level

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( 21 x 29.6cm sketchbook.  pen, watercolor )

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A few days ago, I had a chance to sketch a beautiful subway station located near Yongsan-gu Office(용산구청). Noksapyeong Station(녹사평역) on line No.6 is known for having the most beautiful interior and a spectacular underground space for a subway station.
The glass domed roof allows plenty of natural light into the station. Inside the station, the crisscrossing escalators and stairs traverse the spherical space that runs through five levels. Especially on the main stairway, it was very impressed to hear Korean traditional music when people go up the step with shining light. Because the American Army base(미군부대) locates nearby, I could see occasionally foreign passengers while sketching. Among them, some people showed interest in my sketches with favorable comments. It was very exciting sketch time trying to draw various forms and movements.
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남산과 미군기지, 신청사를 둘러보는 용산의 중심지
작은 유리돔 아래 아담하고 스펙타클한 지하철 공간
다이나믹한 직선들과 동심원 곡선들이 교차하면서
천창의 빛과 색색의 조명아래 오르내리는 인파들~~
녹사평 역사는 작은 보석과도 같은 스케치장소입니다.

46th WorldWide SketchCrawl at the National Museum of Korea, Seoul

the museum and a Korean traditional pavilion reflected in the water (21 x 29.6cm)

a panoramic view of the National Museum of Korea (18 X 29.6cm)

entrance plaza in front of the Exhibition Hall (21 x 29.6cm) 

Great Hall(으뜸홀) on the 1st floor (21 x 29.6cm)

a scenery inside the museum (21 x 29.6cm)

Ten-Story Pagoda from Gyeongcheonsa Temple Site(경천사지10층탑) (21 x 29.6cm)

statue of the Buddha named 'Pensive Bodhisattva.'(반가사유상)(21 x 29.6cm)

a beautiful lounge in front of the Children's Museum (21 x 29.6cm)

a rear view overlooking Namsan Mountain (21 x 29.6cm)

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(pen and watercolor)

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The National Museum of Korea is located about 1.5 km away from Yongsan Station. It is the largest museum in Korea and houses precious Korean cultural assets that tell the story of Korea’s fascinating history, from ancient times to the modern era. The architectural style harmoniously blends traditional and contemporary styles. It was built to house more than 140,000 national relics and artifacts, and also to serve as a complex cultural facility with a sculpture garden, open plaza and outdoor exhibition area. Also, artificial falls, streams, and green fields have been cultivated to create a beautifully landscaped space for visitors.

Last Saturday, in celebration of the 46th World Wide SketchCrawl, we Seoul usk members met at this magnificent museum and had a good sketch time.There were so many sketching objects that I couldn't help drawing busily in and out of the museum despite the cold wind. Nevertheless, it was informative and very interesting work to me.

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용산의 명소----국립 중앙박물관 건물의 거대한 스케일 속에 간직하고 있는

국보 문화재의 수많은 볼거리들과 문화행사는 연중무휴 쉴 날이 없습니다. 

한국식 전통과 서구식 공간 사이에서 구석구석 조화로운 면들을 찾아보면서,

역사 공부와 함께 인물들과 풍물을 스케치를 하는 최적의 장소라 하겠습니다.