Important ancient Korean artifacts that were to be the highlight of an upcoming exhibition on the art of the ancient kingdom of Silla at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will not be displayed as the Cultural Heritage Administration ordered they remain in Korea due to risks of potential damage.
One of the artifacts, the gilt-bronze Buddhist statue “Pensive Bodhisattva” from the Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57-A.D. 935), was to have been the highlight of the new exhibition “Silla: Korea’s Golden Kingdom,” from Oct. 29-Feb. 23, 2014.

The Cultural Heritage Administration, the state cultural heritage agency, said it informed the National Museum of Korea, the exhibition partner with the Met, that the museum is not allowed to take the three artifacts from the country because of damage concerns.

“The Cultural Heritage Committee (under the CHA) advised that the ancient artifacts from the Silla period not be part of the overseas exhibition because they are highly concerned about their safety and potential damage,” said an official of the Culture Heritage Administration, who wished to remain anonymous.

The three artifacts are registered national treasures.

“Without the ‘Pensive Bodhisattva,’ we have to make major changes in the display, promotional works and more,” said an official of the National Museum of Korea, who wished to remain anonymous. “It’s a massive change for the exhibitors.”

According to the museum official, the exhibition was planned five years ago and the Met and the National Museum of Korea agreed on the list of artifacts that would be on display at the exhibition.

“When we told the Met about the latest development, they said they were confused. They said they first needed to talk about this with their exhibition team members,” he added.

The cultural heritage committee, which holds a meeting every two months, advises the state cultural heritage agency on the preservation and management of artifacts. The head of the CHA holds the right to make final decisions based on their recommendation.

According to local news reports, the cultural heritage committee in April allowed the artifacts to go on display in New York, but the decision was overturned by the new head of the Cultural Heritage Administration who took office in March. The National Museum of Korea was informed of the decision on Monday.

Byun Young-sup, the administrator of the CHA, told the director of the National Museum of Korea to send another gilt-bronze Buddhist statue, also a national treasure, but not the “Pensive Bodhisattva,” “because it’s been in overseas exhibitions too often.”

From 1957 to 2009, the “Pensive Bodhisattva” was shown overseas eight times, according to Hwang Pyug-woo, director of the Korea Cultural Heritage Policy Research Institute, a nonprofit organization, who also opposes sending the gilt-bronze statue to New York.

“It will be definitely affected by the different temperature and humidity. Any artifact will be affected if they are placed in a different setting,” Hwang told The Korea Herald. “And this is a one-of-a-kind, invaluable artifact. I must say it can be seen as the eastern ‘Mona Lisa,’” he said.

“The Met receives an average of 20,000 visitors a day and we are sending the artifacts because it’s worth showing at such a prestigious and popular institution,” said an official of the National Museum of Art.

Byun’s greeting message on CHA’s website reads: “Our cultural heritage is not only a source of wealth for the entire Korean people, but priceless treasures to be shared with the rest of the international community.”

(wylee@heraldcorp.com)