Conservation
Conservation
As we continue to fund conservation projects, please continue to check these pages for documentation of conservation processes.
Pair of Korean Paintings Depicting Blooming Lotuses, Birds, Pines, and Men Fishing Over the Cliff, Late 19th to early 20th century (1973.6.13AB)
These two paintings were done by artist Park Gye-dam using a heated iron on paper to create strokes that form imagery and calligraphy. The work made by this special technique is called Nakhwa, and Nakhwajang (Pyrography) was designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage by Republic of Korea in 2018.
In 2022, the museum was awarded a grant from the National Museum of Korea to undertake a multi-year conservation project with Studio SOGENDO, beginning in 2023, to repair and preserve this rare and delicate art form.
In 2023, the museum initiated a multi-year restoration of two Korean Nakhwa paintings, working with head conservator Tomokatsu Kawazu from Studio SOGENDO after securing a grant from the National Museum of Korea. Following two years of treatment, the paintings have been restored to exhibition quality and are now ready for display for the first time. By presenting these nakhwa and their conservation journey, the museum aims to increase awareness of this traditional Korean art form and highlight the importance of preserving our cultural heritage for future generations. The conservation project and documentary received generous support from the National Museum of Korea, while Studio SOGENDO and Bryan Cooke contributed additional support for the mounting.
Full Documentary HERE
Step-by-step conservation HERE
Would you like to learn more about Nakhwa conservation? It’s fascinating to explore the step-by-step process and the tiny details that the conservator diligently works on behind the scenes, often unnoticed. Take a closer look at the little details about conservation materials. Courtesy of STUDIO Sogendo.
Nakhwa Conservation Materials HERE
Three Sets of Four-Panel Screens Depicting The Manchus Hunting Tigers, Deer, And Wild Boars, Joseon dynasty, 19th century (2000.38.7ABC)
This set of three folding screens depicts the Manchus, the ruling ethnic group of China during the Qing dynasty (1392-1910), as they ride through mountains and forest hunting tiger in a style of genre painting called horyeopdo that became popular during the Joseon dynasty.
Such paintings were used to decorate the interior of a residence or genre hall for military officials. Some people believed that paintings of Qing elites were a kind of protective amulet that could avert evil spirits.
The screens were recently conserved thanks to a generous grant from the National Museum of Korea. The accompanying video gives more insight into the screens and the conservation process.