From June 26 to July 18, free admission for all at Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Gallery... Exhibition of over 200 mask artworks from 18 Asian countries including Korea, Japan, China, India, Mongolia, and Tibet
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will hold the "Masks of Asia Exhibition," featuring traditional masks from various Asian countries, at the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Gallery.
Hosted by the Nowon Cultural Foundation, the exhibition runs from June 26 to July 18 and showcases over 200 masks from 18 Asian countries collected by Dr. Kim Jeong-hwan, a mask collector and chief researcher at the Korea Festival Culture Research Institute, who traveled around the world gathering these masks.
As the subtitle "Masks are the Art of the Soul" suggests, mask culture is an art form that has accompanied human history since primitive times.
The district stated that this exhibition offers a great opportunity to view masks from 18 Asian countries including Korea, Japan, China, India, the Philippines, and Mongolia in one place, allowing visitors to feel the cultural affinity shared across Asia as well as the unique artistic sentiments of each country.
The exhibition is open on weekdays from 2 PM to 8 PM, and on weekends from 12 PM to 8 PM, with closures every Monday.
In addition to mask viewing, a docent program is scheduled every weekend at 2 PM during the exhibition period to help visitors understand the history and culture embedded in the masks.
Furthermore, on July 16 at 6:30 PM, a fusion gugak (traditional Korean music) group called "Yayo Pungnyu" will perform haegeum music on the outdoor stage of the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Gallery, offering visitors a unique evening atmosphere that complements the Asian masks.
As much as mask culture has global universality, "masks" are also an item that forms the cultural identity of Nowon-gu. This is because the district has annually held the "Nowon Mask Festival," inspired by the "Yangju Byeolsandae Nori," a traditional play passed down in this area since the time it was part of Nohae-myeon, Yangju-si.
Although the festival was not held last year due to concerns over COVID-19 infection, the "Nowon Mask Festival" is a representative local festival that connects residents with one heart every year and has been selected as a Seoul city brand festival.
This is also why the "Masks of Asia" exhibition is especially welcome to Nowon residents who have enjoyed gathering and celebrating while wearing masks.
Meanwhile, the "Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Gallery," where the exhibition is held, opened last May in the "Hwarangdae Railroad Park," which is becoming a local landmark.
Although its operation period is short, it plays a significant role in naturally allowing residents to enjoy art and enhancing the prestige of local landmarks through cultural arts.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, "I want to give residents a precious time to explore the mysterious history and culture contained in masks," and added, "We plan to present various programs through the Gyeongchun Line Forest Trail Gallery so that residents can enjoy art more closely."
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