I am serving as a KF Museum intern for the Asian Art collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York City, as part of the second term of the KF Museum Internship program. The museum’s collection of Asian art, which encompasses a wide variety of art from Korea, China, Japan, India, and the countries of Southeast Asia, is substantial even for a museum of this scope. My work assignment is to assist Soyoung Lee, the associate curator who is in charge of the Korean art at the MET.
The main project that I have been focusing on since last September is the preparation for an exhibition titled Silla Dynasty Art, which will open in late October this year. I am filled with excitement for this valuable opportunity to share the splendor of ancient Korean culture with people from around the world. I am responsible for maintaining the list of items to be exhibited and arranging for images of the works,
and I am also helping to conduct research for production of the exhibition catalogue and to translate various terminologies. In addition, together with Ms. Lee, I attend meetings with several of the museum’s departments, including the editing department, design department, and product planning department. The MET is such a large-scale institution that the work is divided up and assigned to specialized departments. I have been able to learn a lot by observing how experts from various departments coordinate their efforts to prepare for a particular exhibition.
It was also fascinating to see how the exhibits in the Korean gallery area are being rotated from December. While the Korean gallery at the MET is not as large as the Chinese or Japanese gallery areas, the items on display are frequently changed in order to attract visitors’ interest. During the most recent rotation, three portraits were placed on display. Since portraits happened to be the topic of my Master’s thesis, I have been able to put my thesis research to good use. The internship has also been an opportunity for me to become familiar with the work required to effectively prepare an exhibition space, from the overall arrangement of the pieces to the related details, like the cases and color of the walls.
I have also been taking part in art gallery tours, volunteer training, and other activities that involve direct communication with visitors to the museum. Gallery tours of the MET are offered to visitors from all over the world. It is not easy to spark the interest of museumgoers who are not familiar with Korean art while also conveying helpful information about the art works. There is much for me to learn and think about as I observe how Ms. Lee manages to keep her group enthralled throughout the hour-long tour. For me, the question-andanswer session that takes place at the end of each tour is as valuable as any classroom session.
Each time I notice museum visitors paying attention to aspects of the artwork that I had taken for granted or had never thought of before, I am reminded once again that art history is not the only perspective from which art can be viewed.
In addition to my work duties, the MET also offers numerous opportunities to take part in events, both large and small. In particular, the education department offers various regular programs for the fellows/interns who are selected each year, including conversations with curators and department tours. Through such programs, I have been able to get to know the fellows who are conducting research in other areas and glean helpful information from the vivid anecdotes of the curators. Additionally, I am having a great time attending various Asian cultural events, including screenings of Korean films and a staging of the Chinese traditional play Kunju.
It is said that the intent of the MET is to be an “encyclopedic art museum,” and it lives up to this goal with a vast collection spanning every world region and every historical period. Spending time in this environment has caused me to give more careful consideration to the present location and unique qualities of Korean art. Prior to my internship, there had been times when I wanted to give up on the limitations of Korean art, the insufficient number of pieces, quality-related issues, and the lack of understanding about the Korean sense of beauty. However, as I observed various cultures from all around the world doing their best to make their voices clearly heard at the MET, I came to realize the continuing importance of finding a place for Korean culture in the international context. In the future, I hope to have many more opportunities to share Korean art and history with people from around the world.
- Chorong Shim (KF Museum Intern Asian Art Collection Metropolitan Museum of Art)
한국국제교류재단
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