 |
| ▲ “Scent of Silla: Korean Fragrance Felt in Silla” exhibition launches on Oct. 22, 2025, at Solgeo Art Museum in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- A towering 5-meter scroll depicting the silver figure of the Seokguram Buddha greets visitors at the entrance of the “Scent of Silla: Korean Fragrance Felt in Silla” exhibition, which opens Wednesday at Solgeo Art Museum in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
To the Buddha’s right, a golden Dabotap Pagoda and a silver moon shimmer; to the left, a golden Seokgatap Pagoda and a golden sun glow. The artist painted the motifs using real gold and silver, while the deep black background was created by grinding tourmaline into pigment.
In front of the three images lies a black lotus pond, where visitors can see reflections of the Buddha, the pagodas, the sun, and the moon — as well as themselves — in the water.
“The Seokgatap, Dabotap, and Seokguram Buddha are not merely artifacts but symbols embodying the faith and aspirations of the Silla people,” said artist Kim Min. “The black base represents the cosmic abyss, while gold and silver symbolize eternal spirit and time. The reflections connect past, present, and future in a surreal space.”
The special exhibition, held to celebrate the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, features four artists — ink painting master Park Dae-sung, painter Kim Min, Buddhist artist Venerable Songcheon, and glass artist Park Sun-min — who reinterpret the APEC theme of “sustainable tomorrow” through the lens of Silla culture and Buddhist philosophy.
 |
| ▲ “Scent of Silla: Korean Fragrance Felt in Silla” exhibition launches on Oct. 22, 2025, at Solgeo Art Museum in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The highlight of the exhibition is Park Dae-sung’s monumental work “Korea Fantasy,” a 5-meter-by-15-meter scroll composed of seven connected sheets, arranged in a sweeping curve. It is the largest piece of Park’s 80-year career.
The artwork captures Korea’s cultural and natural splendor, featuring prehistoric and ancient motifs such as the Bangudae petroglyphs, Goguryeo guardian murals, and the Silla “Cheonmado” (Heavenly Horse Painting). Depictions of Mount Geumgang’s waterfalls, Haegeumgang, Mount Baekdu’s Heaven Lake, and Hallasan’s crater lake adorn the panoramic scene, along with the sun, moon, and Big Dipper.
Historical symbols like the Gwanggaeto Stele inscription, Hunminjeongeum, Hahoe masks, and the figure of Dangun are placed throughout, creating a vision of Korea’s spiritual and artistic heritage. “It’s a fantasy depicting the dreams of our ancestors, who built a nation on this beautiful land,” Park said.
 |
| ▲ “Scent of Silla: Korean Fragrance Felt in Silla” exhibition launches on Oct. 22, 2025, at Solgeo Art Museum in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Nearby hangs a 5-meter depiction of the “Pensive Bodhisattva,” based on the “Stone Seated Pensive Bodhisattva from Bukji-ri, Bonghwa,” held by Kyungpook National University Museum — the world’s largest of its kind, though missing its upper body. “Recreating the missing half was more difficult than surgery,” Park said with a smile.
Also on display is Venerable Songcheon’s acclaimed piece “Gwan-eum and Maria — Truth Has Never Left Us,” first shown at the 2024 Busan Biennale. The 4-meter painting depicts the Virgin Mary in blue and the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in red, facing each other in a message of transcendent truth and compassion.
Glass artist Park Sun-min presents “Continuity of Time,” a pagoda-shaped installation featuring 250 recycled glass bottles arranged in tiers.
The exhibition runs through April 26 next year.
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
