Opening this week at the British Museum in London, a new exhibition explores 2,000 years of Korean artistic and cultural heritage, moving past the nation’s contemporary pop culture exports to showcase centuries of technical skill and resilience. The display runs from October 1 until January 31, 2027, according to Reuters reporting by Francesca Halliwell.
British Museum Exhibition Spans Two Millennia
The collection brings together historical works dating back to around 400 BC alongside pieces by contemporary Korean artists. Curator Sang-ah Kim told Reuters that while young audiences in the United Kingdom often know Korea primarily through modern entertainment, the new showcase reveals a much deeper historical roots. Most of the artifacts on display are on loan from the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
Rare Artifacts and Samsung Collection Highlights
Exhibits include contributions from the collection of the late former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, who died in 2020, and his family. Visitors can view statuettes of bodhisattvas, a collection of sutras dating from the centuries following the introduction of Buddhism to Korea, and celebrated Goryeo celadon ceramics. Another notable piece is from South Korean artist Yeesookyung’s “Translated Vase” series, a sculpture assembled from discarded potters’ shards that highlights the aesthetic value of imperfection.
Connections to Modern Culture and Historical Struggle
Several traditional pieces offer unexpected points of familiarity for fans of modern streaming hits. Kim noted that visitors might recognize the “Tiger and Magpie” or “Sun, Moon and Five Peaks” motifs if they watched the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” That film features characters inspired by tiger and magpie paintings—specifically Derpy the Tiger and Sussie the Magpie—while the fictional group HUNTR/X performs before a digital interpretation of a “Sun, Moon and Five Peaks” folding screen.
More recent works address profound personal and national trauma. These include Suh Do Ho’s thread drawing “Self-Portrait,” which examines themes of home, migration, and belonging. The exhibition also features works by Lee Jung-seop, an artist separated from his family during the Korean War who etched images into the foil linings of cigarette packets when he could not afford standard paint or canvas.
Exhibition Details and Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Korea exhibition run at the British Museum?
The exhibition opens on Thursday, October 1, and runs until January 31, 2027.
Where are the artifacts on display coming from?
Most of the works are on loan from the National Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, alongside pieces from the family collection of former Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee.
Who curated the exhibition?
The exhibition was curated by Sang-ah Kim, who noted that the display aims to showcase over 2,000 years of Korean creativity, resilience, and technical skill.
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