The Slowest Way to Look at Artifacts, the Second Volume of "Yumulmeong"

The National Museum of Korea has published Yumulmeong: Things That Become More Lovable the Longer You Look at Them, the second volume in its popular museum book series. The first volume, released in 2024, topped bestseller lists in the arts category and attracted widespread attention for its unique way of presenting museum collections.

Yumulmeong: Things That Become More Lovable the Longer You Look at Them (from the collector's). Photo by National Museum of Korea.

The new publication brings together award-winning entries from the museum's "My Favorite Artifact" contest along with stories shared by curators, donors, and donors' family members about artifacts gifted to the museum.

The book contains photographs of 100 donated artifacts from the National Museum of Korea. Included are scholar's study objects such as a three-tier openwork table, a writing desk, a white porcelain house-shaped water dropper, and a white porcelain openwork brush holder decorated with grape and squirrel motifs. Historically significant donations, including a bronze helmet, the Denny Taegukgi, and calligraphy by Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, are also featured.

Maintaining the original concept of presenting a single artifact on each page, the new edition improves readability and viewing comfort through exposed thread binding, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in each object.

The volume also departs from conventional classifications based on period, function, or technique. Instead, artifacts are grouped according to aesthetic qualities such as "splendor" and "elegance," creating a more intuitive and emotional connection between readers and the objects.

One featured artifact, a White Porcelain Seated Arhat Statue Painted with Iron Pigment, appears alongside a reflection titled "It Looks Like My Younger Brother." Its small frame, rounded face, and composed posture create a calm impression, while its subtle facial features evoke both maturity and childlike innocence.

Another highlight is the Beopgodae, distinguished by its animal-shaped base and bowl-like upper structure. Shades of green and red mingle across its surface, while its wide-open mouth and powerful legs convey a sense of vitality. The weathered finish and unusual form further enhance the artifact's presence.

The three-tier openwork table creates a tranquil atmosphere through its long legs, open-sided structure, and rich wood grain. Accompanying text draws connections between the table and winter landscapes, the scent of wood, and the passage of time. The writing desk, with its low profile, drawers, curved legs, and worn surfaces, reveals traces of everyday life.

Objects such as the bronze helmet and the brazier decorated with animal faces demonstrate the striking impact of unfamiliar artifacts. The helmet's rounded shape and sharply cut facial openings leave a powerful impression, while the brazier's open mouth, side rings, and foot-like supports immediately draw attention. Their forms preserve both symbolic meaning and practical function.

The Buncheong Ware Dish with Iron-Painted Vine Motifs stands out with its broad shape and bold black patterns. Meanwhile, the White Porcelain Blue-and-White Mountain-Shaped Brush Holder presents houses and landscapes rendered in delicate blue lines across a miniature mountain form. Its modest scale and gentle contours create a quiet sense of beauty.

The book's greatest strength lies in encouraging readers to spend time with each artifact and gradually form their own interpretations. Rather than directing a single viewpoint, it invites personal reflection, transforming the act of viewing artifacts into an intimate and contemplative experience.

Reported by News Culture [e-mail]