ICHCAP

A special exhibition, Alternative Identities: Masks of ASEAN & Korea, will be co-hosted by ICHCAP (Director-General Ji-Sung Kim) and the Korea Foundation ASEAN Culture House (President Kim Ki Hwan) from April 26 (Wed) to July 23 (Sun) at KF ASEAN Culture House in Busan, South Korea.

Recently, while the meaning of the second self in virtual reality, such as 'bukkae' and 'avatar,' has emerged and is attracting attention in Korea, interest in masks, a cultural heritage of humanity, is also increasing. This collaborative exhibition, featuring more than two hundred masks, costumes, and multimedia materials from Korea and 10 ASEAN countries, will unfold the interesting spiritual culture of Korea and ASEAN people in five sections.

The first section, with the theme of “Origin of Masks,” showcases and introduces the origins of shamanistic masks intended to ward off disaster and disease and to pray for good harvests, and masks for performance in plays and other entertainment forms. In the second section, “Representation of Myth,” ASEAN mask dramas that portray ancient epics are displayed. In the third section, with the theme of “Alternative Reality,” Tuong (Hat Boi) of Viet Nam is introduced as a traditional opera with moral messages, featuring its unique makeup techniques that almost resemble masks. The fourth section, “Reflection of Self,” shows masks used in local festivals in the Philippines and presents contemporary artworks to contemplate the modern meaning of masks. The fifth section celebrates the inscription of Talchum, Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in November 2022 and exhibits thirteen kinds of masks, all of which were displayed when Talchum was nominated.

The co-host of the exhibition Ji-Sung Kim, Director-General of ICHCAP, said, “I hope that this exhibition of masks created by the combination of various cultural meanings and craftsmanship will serve as an opportunity to think about the ways of communicating and expressing our identity today.”

Meanwhile, the opening ceremony of this exhibition will be held jointly with the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Digital Culture Experience Zone at the ASEAN Culture House on Wednesday, April 26. On the next day, the 2023 Public Diplomacy Workshop for ASEAN-Korea Cooperating Organizations and the 2nd Information Session for ASEAN Culture Related Domestic Organizations will be held at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Busan to vitalize the network related to ASEAN-Korea exchanges and cooperation.

Starting with Busan, the exhibition will be held in Andong and Seoul from September, and will also be unveiled through Google Art & Culture, where you can enjoy collections of art museums and museums around the world online.