[지금은? 한국 고미술에 투자할 타이밍ㅋ]

한동안 침체되어있던 고미술이

경매에서 다시 현대미술을 압도하고 있다고 하네요 +_+

 

Show to help revive Korean antique art

 

Korean antique art was pushed into the background of major auctions during the last few years while Western contemporary art ruled the market. Market insiders assumed that continuous forgeries of antique art were the main reason. According to the Korean Antiques Association, 52.7 percent of the 1,885 items that asked for expert analysis between 2006 and 2008 were judged as fake.

This year, however, antique art seems to be back on track, proving the old belief that "contemporary art flourishes amid a bullish market and antique art prospers during a depression."

"Now is the best time to collect antique art. Its price, which has slumped during the last few years, is recovering. Antique art has even been surpassing contemporary art in auctions this year," said Kim Jong-chun, president of the Daboseong Antique Shop.

"Antique art contains the culture and history of our ancestors, which contemporary art does not have. We will continue to support the popularization of antique art," he added.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary and to boost up the antique art market, Daboseong Antique is holding "Special Exhibitions of Antique in Life" in its gallery in Gyeongun-dong, central Seoul.

Daboseong Antiques first opened in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul in 1984 and moved to the current address in 2000. For the past 25 years it has collected and showcased various antiques from commoners' everyday craftworks to ceramics used in royal palaces.

This exhibition showcases more than 300 national exhibition-level antiques from the period of the Three States to the Joseon Dynasty.

"These are very valuable pieces. Some will surely be given 'Treasure' titles by the government if we register them," explained Kim.

The exhibits, ranging from wooden shoes for rainy days, to women's delicate accessories, to fish scale-decorated-tables and gilt bronze towers, attract not only antiquers but also outsiders.

Among the exhibits, the "Hwagaksibjangsangmunham," or the "Ten longevity symbols-engraved-horn work box" from the Joseon Dynasty stands out.

The 10 colorful longevity symbols including cranes, pine trees and deers made of cow horns are brilliantly, yet delicately engraved onto the 46 cm wide, 31.5 cm long and 25 cm tall box. None of the patterns, which are packed on all six sides of the box, are duplicated.

Some paintings by legendary artists such as Jang Seung-up -- a 19th century painter who was featured in 'Chihwaseon,' a movie that grabbed best director award at 2002 Cannes Film Festival -- can also be found at the exhibition.

Jang painted a flock of wild geese flying over a field of reeds on his way to Japan with some envoys. He named the work "Noando," taking the letters 'No,' which signifies reed and 'an' which signifies wild goose.

As "Noan" altogether means "Comfortable life at old age," the painting was a hit in the late Joseon Dynasty.

The exhibition runs through July 28 at Daboseong Antique Gallery. For more information, call (02) 730-7566 or visit www.daboseong.co.kr

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young