‘The Rapidly Changing Community and the Future of Museums’ Delivered by the Temple and Seongbo Museum
Exhibition of Historical Relics Such as Beomeosa Signboards from the Late Joseon to Modern Era and Works by Two Contemporary Artists
Beomeosa Seongbo Museum of Geumjeong Chongnim (Director: Monk Jeong-O) opened its special exhibition "Nevertheless, Daiji Daebi" on May 2.
The exhibition will continue until the end of August, and from June, citizen participation programs will also be held.
Beomeosa Seongbo Museum is holding a special exhibition titled "Nevertheless, Daiji Daebi." Photo by Beomeosa Seongbo Museum
This exhibition is part of "Museum x Enjoy," a project under the "2025 Museum·Art Museum Week" organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and hosted by the Korean Museum Association. Beomeosa Seongbo Museum was selected in the exhibition category again this year, following last year.
The exhibition is composed of three sections, tracing the journey through the sea of suffering, enlightenment, and the pursuit of peace, and explores the meaning of "Daiji Daebi" through art and relics.
Section 1, "Sea of Suffering," features artifacts commemorating the 80th anniversary of Liberation and the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan normalization, including the "Geumeo Seonwon" signboard by Kim Gajin and the "Geungnakam Chilseongdo." Notably, the "Chilseongdo" is a cultural property that was repatriated from Switzerland through an auction after being taken overseas.
Section 2, "Voyage," highlights the journey toward enlightenment through glass plate photographs of Beomeosa signboards from the Japanese colonial period, the Avalokiteshvara painting, and calligraphy works from major Beomeosa sites such as Wonhyoam, Muryangsugak, and Mireukjeon.
Section 3, "Peace," features the "Daeungjeon Yeongsanhoesangdo" and displays signboards by renowned calligraphers such as Chusa Kim Jeonghui and Wongyo Lee Gwangsa, illuminating Buddhist peace and spiritual sanctuary.
At the end of the exhibition, works by community artist Kim Jeongju and sculptor Woo Jing offer a contemporary interpretation.
Kim Jeongju presents "Nevertheless...," created from discarded everyday objects, and the participatory artwork "Haejoeum Gwanseeum Bosal." Woo Jing expresses the weighty hardships of the era and a return to nature with works such as the iron sculpture "Heavy Bag" and the rust drawing "Gwanpokdo."
Monk Jeong-O stated, "Life is a sea of suffering. Even if the waves before us are high, let us not stop but continue our voyage," adding, "I hope this exhibition brings comfort and courage to people today."
Information about the exhibition and citizen participation programs can be found on the official website of Beomeosa Seongbo Museum.
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