Lights of Korea - Jinju Lantern Festival Exhibition
The largest art exhibition from South Korea held in Brazil, 'Lights of Korea - Jinju Lantern Festival', will arrive at the Main Hall of the Museum of Contemporary Art - MAC Niterói on June 9th. Curated by journalist Ana Cláudia Guimarães, the exhibition invites the public to dive into one of the most popular Korean cultural traditions through immersive experiences with site-specific installations. The ancient colorful silk lanterns engage with contemporary scenic elements, transporting visitors to the famous city of Jinju, which has hosted one of the country's most traditional cultural festivals since 2003.
MAC Niterói will be adorned with colorful tunnels formed by 1200 original silk lanterns from the city of Jinju. At the end of the tunnels, the audience will encounter a huge 3D moon, along with installations, photos, and videos of the city and the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, showcasing the unity between tradition and modernity. In addition to the lanterns, Hanboks will also be on display. The exhibition also features the presence of Jinju's mascot, the 3-meter-tall otter named Hamo.
The tradition of silk lanterns began in the 12th century. The artifacts came to be used as a military tactic and means of communication in the 1st Battle of Jinjuseong Fortress, during the Imjin War (1592-1598), between 3,800 soldiers of the Suseong Army (Korea), who defended the castle, and 20,000 Japanese soldiers. The Koreans used lanterns on the Namgang River on a dark night to spot the Japanese, preventing them from crossing the river. In addition to military tactics, lanterns were also used to send messages to family members outside the fortress. Later, the population of Jinju began releasing lanterns on the Namgang River to honor the souls of the sacrificed soldiers, as a symbol of resistance.
The tradition gave rise to the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival as a prominent event in Korea, known internationally and attracting over 2 million people every year. The festivity was designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as Korea's representative festival and was selected as a global luxury festival development in Korea for 5 consecutive years.
The exhibition "Lights of Korea - Jinju Lantern Festival" is organized by the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil and the Jinju Municipality, and is presented by the Scuola di Cultura and Ana Cláudia Guimarães. Sponsors include the Niterói Municipality, Neltur (Niterói Leisure and Tourism Company), FAN (Niterói Art Foundation), Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Christ the Redeemer Sanctuary, Redemptor Institute, Hyundai, and Ecoponte. Supported by Casal Garcia.
About the 'Lights of Korea - Jinju Lantern Festival' Exhibition
Date: June 9th to August 25th, 2024
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art - MAC Niterói (Mirante da Boa Viagem, s/nº, Boa Viagem, Niterói – RJ)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm (last entry at 5:30 pm)
Ticket prices: R$16.00 (Full); R$8.00 (Half-price)
Free admission on Wednesdays. Free admission for cyclists and Niterói residents. Learn more about ticketing policy here: http://culturaniteroi.com.br/macniteroi/visitacao
Tickets available at the museum box office and through Sympla: https://site.bileto.sympla.com.br/macniteroi/