Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea Treasure Trove of Korean Art: A Collaborative Exhibition with the National Museum of Korea

Sixty years have passed since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea in 1965. To commemorate this anniversary, the Tokyo National Museum (TNM) and the National Museum of Korea are jointly staging this exhibition of Korean art.

 

The histories and cultures of Japan and Korea have long been deeply intertwined. In 2002, the Tokyo National Museum and the National Museum of Korea signed an art exchange agreement to deepen mutual understanding as representative national museums in our respective countries. In the 20 years or so since, we have pursued a wide variety of exchanges, including the reciprocal dispatch of researchers, joint research, and reciprocal loans of artworks.

 

As a further example of this fruitful relation, this exhibition introduces the quintessence of Korean art through masterpieces from the collections of both museums. Chapter one is entitled “The Goryeo Dynasty: Beauty and Faith” and it showcases some of the finest examples of Buddhist art, gold and silverware, and celadon from the Goryeo period (918–1392). Chapter Two is called “The Courtly Culture of the Joseon Dynasty” and it features some resplendent court paintings, garments and fashion accessories from the Joseon period (1392–1897). We sincerely hope this exhibition conveys a sense of the rich charm of Korean art to all who visit it in Japan.