METAL, IRON AND STEEL ; THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF  IRON

 

National Museum of Korea presents the exhibition, “METAL, IRON AND STEEL ; THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF  IRON” whose purposes are to ascertain the role and value of iron in human history and shed light on the development of iron in this country’s history. The exhibition examines the process of how iron has become the most actively used metal in our lives.

 

The exhibition displays 735 pieces in 429 categories that show the iron culture of Korea, China and Japan in East Asia and West Asia. It goes over various aspects of iron in history from the perspectives of life and power. Since iron had emerged as a symbol of power, it had infiltrated into the lives of people and is used in the daily lives of the modern industrialized society.

ㅇDate: September 26, 2017 ~ November 26, 2017

ㅇLocation: Special Exhibition Gallery Ⅰ∙Ⅱ, National Museum of Korea

ㅇOrganized by National Museum of Korea

ㅇSupported by Cultural Foundation of National Museum of Korea

※ Jeonju National Museum Exhibition: December 19, 2017 ~ February 20, 2018.

 

□ Admission Fee

Admission	Individual	Group (over 20 people)	Package Ticket (This exhibition + The Dream of a King)	The Dream of a King (Individual/Group)
Adult	6,000	5,000	11,000	9,000/8,000
Middle/High school age	5,000	4,000	10,000	8,000/7,000
Elementary school age	4,000	3,000	9,000	7,000/6,000
Senior (65+), Child (5-7 year-olds)	3,000	2,000	6,000	5,000/4,000

 

□ Introduction

 

Part 1. Iron Meets Human

Since humans started using iron from nature, iron had developed in various forms by region. Part 1 focuses on the human effort of making stronger iron and the social phenomena caused by it. The emergence and development of iron culture are different in the East and the West. Through examining historical events, the section seeks to discover the role and value of iron in world history.

 

Part 2. Iron Makes Power

The emergence of iron has led to increased productivity, which arose desire among rulers to own more iron. The possession of iron symbolized power. This symbolism of iron had appeared in various forms from the Prehistoric Age to Joseon Dynasty. Struggles to maintain power brought about wars. We can say that the increased productivity through iron means ”growth“ while the war caused by power means “destruction”. Part 2 goes down to how iron-birthed power had created numerous contradictory events.

 

Part 3. Iron Enters Life

Iron has been used for everyday tools, building materials, religious icons, coloring materials, etc. Folk paintings from the Joseon Dynasty contain many iron tools used for basic living, ancestral rites and rituals.

The property of iron, which is rough and rugged, is used to express the beauty of iron Buddha and the original color of iron. Part 3 shows how people tried to use iron to achieve their purposes actively.

 

□ Events and Programs

 

1. Symposium

ㅇ International Symposium: The Trend of Iron Manufacturing Technology in Northeastern Asia

- Date: Saturday, October 21, 2017, 10:00~18:00

- Place: Auditorium, National Museum of Korea

- Organizer: Jungwon National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage

- Special partner: National Museum of Korea

ㅇ Academic Seminar: Recent Research Trend in Northeast Asia’s Iron Culture

- Date: Friday, October 13, 2017, 14:00~18:00

- Place: Classroom 1, National Museum of Korea

- Organizer: The Society of  Iron Culture , National Museum of Korea

2. Special Lecture

- Date: Friday, October 13, 2017, 10:00~12:00

- Place: Classroom 1, National Museum of Korea

- Title: History of Iron: Universe, Life and Human

- Speaker: Seohyung Kim, Research Professor, Frontier College, Inha University

3. Exhibition Guide

- Curator’s talk(To be announced)

- Museum docent guided tour