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Congratulatory remarks at Opening of Special Exhibition
”Poetry of Colors – Korean Art from Swiss Collections”
(1 September 2017, HVM St. Gallen)
Dr. Daniel Studer, Professor Thomsen, Dr. des Jeanne Fichtner-Egloff, my fellow Koreans in Switzerland and distinguished guests,
I am pleased to attend the opening of this very meaningful exhibition. To my knowledge, this is the first ever exhibition in Switzerland of such a fantastic Korean art collection. It is further noteworthy that this exhibition was initiated by the Swiss museum and university. My Embassy, along with the Korea Foundation, is very happy to support this exhibition.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Historical and Ethnological Museum St. Gallen and the Institute of Art History of the University of Zurich in particular, for initiating and organizing such an important event.
In addition, I would like to extend my special thanks to the participating museums and private art collectors who contributed their precious artworks for this exhibition.
Until recently, I suppose, for most Europeans including the Swiss, East Asian culture has been identified by Chinese and Japanese culture. When I was posted to the Korean Mission in Geneva in the late 90’s, the presence and image of Korea in Switzerland, not only culturally but also commercially, was virtually non- existent. Therefore, an exhibition solely dedicated to a collection of traditional Korean art like this is a big turnaround for me.
When I attended the special lecture by Professor Jungmann of UCLA last week in Zurich, I mentioned how Professor Jon Covell, the late American expert on Asian culture and art, had summarized Chinese, Japanese and Korean culture.
She labeled the three cultures by three (3) C’s: Chinese culture was described by C for ‘controlled’ and Japanese ‘contrived’. Meanwhile, Korean culture was labeled another C for ’casual’. I think this is the case more for the Joseon Dynasty and contemporary Korea, among others.
I think, however, that magnificence, sophistication and colorfulness found in
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Sekguram Grotto, Dabotap pagoda, the Gilt-bronze Maitreya, Tripitaka Koreana and more are also representative of Korean art and culture. These, unlike the art of Joseon and contemporary Korea, are inherited from the Shilla and Goryeo Dynasties which actively interacted not just with neighbors in proximity but also with regions far away such as India, Persia and the Arabic world. And some elements are still alive and breathing in our culture today.
I personally think that the collection in exhibition today is the tip of an iceberg, but a friendly introduction to this many-layered and multifaceted Korean culture. I hope you enjoy the exhibition and that it will act as a catalyst to further evolve your interest in our culture.
I noticed that Ms. Rosa Jiyun Kim, [a Korean Ph.D candidate of the University of Zurich,] was intensely involved in the preparation of this exhibition together with Dr. des Jeanne Fichtner-Egloff, Asian Curator of the HVM and Ms. Natasha Fischer-Vaidya of the University of Zurich. I believe that they are the best set of collaborators who could put meaningful explanations to the artworks to help visitors to this exhibition better understand Korean culture in a more systematic and comprehensive way. Thank you very much!
I would also like to underscore my special appreciation for Dr. Daniel Studer, Director of the Historical and Ethnological Museum St. Gallen and Professor Hans Bjarne Thomsen, Chair of the Section of East Asian Art, the Institute of Art History of the University of Zurich, of their enormous efforts and leadership in organizing this great event.
Finally, I am very happy that this event also provides an opportunity for you to enjoy Korean traditional music and food at the same time!
Thank you very much. 감사합니다.
