100-day Countdown to the Opening of the New Pensive Bodhisattva Gallery at the National Museum of Korea

100 Days of Rest

for the National Treasure Pensive Bodhisattva

Placed in Storage until October 28

The National Museum of Korea (Director General: Min Byoungchan) is planning to permanently exhibit in a single space two national treasure Pensive Bodhisattva sculptures (National Treasure Nos. 78 and 83). The Gilt-bronze Pensive Bodhisattva (National Treasure No. 83) that had been on display in the Buddhist Sculpture Gallery was placed in storage on July 20 as part of the 100-day countdown to the opening of the new space.

The new exhibition space to be unveiled on October 28 will feature optimal architectural design and facilities. It is expected to provide a special place where every visitor will be able to build his or her own story of the smiles and pensive thinking of the two sculptures. The new 440m² space is to be established on the second floor of the Permanent Exhibition Hall as part of the construction that has been taking place since this past June after the closure of parts of the Donated Works Gallery.

The sculpture, which has been placed in storage in preparation for the opening of the new exhibition, will undergo a series of procedures, including inspection of its condition, photography, and light exposure testing. The process in which the sculpture was de-installed from the gallery and taken to storage under the delicate care of specialists for its 100-day break will be available for viewing through the social media channels of the museum, including a special video uploaded to YouTube (https://youtu.be/Kv0dSvz7-3I).

On October 28, the National Museum of Korea will celebrate the sixteenth anniversary of the establishment of its current location in the Yongsan district by opening the new exhibition space for these two national treasure Pensive Bodhisattva sculptures.

For further details regarding this press release, please contact Ms. Shin Soyeon, associate curator of the Future Strategy Division at the National Museum of Korea, at +82-2-2077-9536.