Andong Culture & Arts Center, in collaboration with Songgang Art Museum, is holding a special cultural tourism exhibition titled “The National Treasure Hahoetal We Never Knew” at its permanent gallery through the 28th to mark the new year.
The exhibition focuses on Hahoetal, created in Andong and handed down for generations, offering a fresh perspective on the historical, artistic, and spiritual value of the masks long regarded as familiar. Tracing the millennium of time and expressions embedded in National Treasure No. 121, the display approaches Hahoetal not as simple artifacts but as cultural heritage to be read, contemplated, and experienced.
Through the symbolism and narratives contained in each mask, along with the lives of ordinary people and the communal spirit reflected within them, visitors are invited to rediscover the depth of traditional Korean culture. The exhibition carefully revisits why Hahoetal was designated a national treasure, examining its artistic refinement, symbolism, and enduring spiritual significance that has transcended centuries.
The gallery presents nine restored Hahoetal works by master artisan Kim Dong-pyo, ceramic interpretations of Hahoetal by potter Lee Hee-bok, as well as related photographs and video materials. In particular, 24 oil paintings by the late painter Kwon Jun reinterpret the eight acts of the Hahoetal Byeolsingut Mask Dance, vividly revealing the dramatic structure and popular imagination embedded in the traditional performance.
Works spanning painting, sculpture, and video connect tradition with modernity and ritual with art. Docent-led tours further help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the stories and symbols contained within Hahoetal.
The exhibition is expected to provide an opportunity to look beyond familiarity and rediscover the true essence and lasting value of Hahoetal as a national treasure.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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