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Mesopotamian cultural heritage visits Korea for the first time

Published July 25, 2022 10:39 AM

A world-class collection of Mesopotamian artifacts, which is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States possesses, visit Korea.

 

On July 21, The National Museum of Korea pronounced an exhibition entitled 'Mesopotamia : Great Cultural Innovations, Selection from The Metropolitan Museum of Art’.

 

“Mesopotamia was the first civilization in human history to develop and apply a form of writing. Despite of it being considered one of the world’s earliest civilizations, its achievements have been less well-known. Moreover, it has not been subjected to the same level of attention as some other ancient civilizations, such as in Egypt. This facts lead few chances to encounter Mesopotamian civilazation in Korea,” Director-General Yoon Sung-yong said at the press release of the exhibition on Thursday, who was newly appointed last week. “To solve this problem the exhibition was co-organized with the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” he added.

 

This is the first time collection of Mesopotamian artifacts exhibit permanently in Korea. 66 artifacts, which show splendor of Mesopotamian civilization are on view through this exhibition.

 

▲ Cuneiform tablet:administrative account with entries concerning malt and barley groats ca. 3100–2900 BCE / photo by Rachel Bae

There is nothing that is not marvelous. Especially, thirteen clay cuneiform tablets presented among the exhibition which is dating to around ca. 3300 BCE is notable. In 1 3/4 × 2 11/16 × 5/8 small inches, the tablet recorded economic information about grain distribution.

 

▲ 'Statue of Gudea' / photo by Rachel Bae

‘Statue of Gudea’ is also one of noteworthy artifact, which is made of diorite in 2090 BCE. His piety face and a realistic description of Gudea’s right arm fascinate the visitors.

 

▲ Head of a ruler / photo by Rachel Bae

Furthermore, ‘Head of a ruler’ is catch visitors’ eyes, that is made of copper alloy. The lifesize head with well-trimmed beard rendered in a naturalistic style, helps us to imagine the face of humankind of B.C.E.

 

The exhibition is comprised of three sections.

 

The first section entitled ‘Cultural Innovations,’ begins with the birth of cities.

The second section is 'Art and Identity,’ which presents various works expressing individual indentity of Mesopotamians.

 

The last section ‘The Age of Empires,’ present art from the two major Mesopotamian empires, the Neo-Assyrian (911-612 BCE) and the Neo-Babylonian Empire (626-539 BCE)

 

“It is very pleased to show the most notable artworks made by Mesopotamia Civilization,” said Yelena Rakic, a curator in the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who visits Korea to attend press release. “Mesopotamian cultural heritage were indeed formative and transformative, as the exhibition presents and explains so beautifully,” she added.

The exhibition will run from July 22, 2022 to January 28, 2024. The admission to the exhibition is free of charge. Docent tours start on August 16. The tour runs two times on weekdays at 13:00 and 15:00, three times on weekends at 11:00, 13:30 and 15:00.

Sayart.net 

Rachel Bae sungmin.b.213@gmail.com 

The National Museum of Korea presents ‘Mesopotamia : Great Cultural Innovations, Selection from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The exhibition will run from July 22, 2022 to January 28, 2024.

A world-class collection of Mesopotamian artifacts, which is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States possesses, visit Korea.

 

On July 21, The National Museum of Korea pronounced an exhibition entitled 'Mesopotamia : Great Cultural Innovations, Selection from The Metropolitan Museum of Art’.

 

“Mesopotamia was the first civilization in human history to develop and apply a form of writing. Despite of it being considered one of the world’s earliest civilizations, its achievements have been less well-known. Moreover, it has not been subjected to the same level of attention as some other ancient civilizations, such as in Egypt. This facts lead few chances to encounter Mesopotamian civilazation in Korea,” Director-General Yoon Sung-yong said at the press release of the exhibition on Thursday, who was newly appointed last week. “To solve this problem the exhibition was co-organized with the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” he added.

 

This is the first time collection of Mesopotamian artifacts exhibit permanently in Korea. 66 artifacts, which show splendor of Mesopotamian civilization are on view through this exhibition.

 

▲ Cuneiform tablet:administrative account with entries concerning malt and barley groats ca. 3100–2900 BCE / photo by Rachel Bae

There is nothing that is not marvelous. Especially, thirteen clay cuneiform tablets presented among the exhibition which is dating to around ca. 3300 BCE is notable. In 1 3/4 × 2 11/16 × 5/8 small inches, the tablet recorded economic information about grain distribution.

 

▲ 'Statue of Gudea' / photo by Rachel Bae

‘Statue of Gudea’ is also one of noteworthy artifact, which is made of diorite in 2090 BCE. His piety face and a realistic description of Gudea’s right arm fascinate the visitors.

 

▲ Head of a ruler / photo by Rachel Bae

Furthermore, ‘Head of a ruler’ is catch visitors’ eyes, that is made of copper alloy. The lifesize head with well-trimmed beard rendered in a naturalistic style, helps us to imagine the face of humankind of B.C.E.

 

The exhibition is comprised of three sections.

 

The first section entitled ‘Cultural Innovations,’ begins with the birth of cities.

The second section is 'Art and Identity,’ which presents various works expressing individual indentity of Mesopotamians.

 

The last section ‘The Age of Empires,’ present art from the two major Mesopotamian empires, the Neo-Assyrian (911-612 BCE) and the Neo-Babylonian Empire (626-539 BCE)

 

“It is very pleased to show the most notable artworks made by Mesopotamia Civilization,” said Yelena Rakic, a curator in the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who visits Korea to attend press release. “Mesopotamian cultural heritage were indeed formative and transformative, as the exhibition presents and explains so beautifully,” she added.

The exhibition will run from July 22, 2022 to January 28, 2024. The admission to the exhibition is free of charge. Docent tours start on August 16. The tour runs two times on weekdays at 13:00 and 15:00, three times on weekends at 11:00, 13:30 and 15:00.

Sayart.net 

Rachel Bae sungmin.b.213@gmail.com 

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