The exhibition explores the centuries-old mystery of Peter Paul Rubens’s masterpiece drawing Man in Korean Costume, the first depiction of Korean costume by a Western artist. Using drawings, maps, period Korean costume, and other art objects, the exhibition presents the many proposed identities of the man in the drawing, in addition to original scholarship by Stephanie Schrader, associate curator of drawings at the J. Paul Getty Museum.
The exhibition will include several objects that are national treasures from the National Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea, both in Seoul.
“Our sponsorship of this exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to illuminate the rich cultural history of Korea,” said Alvin D. Kang, President and CEO of BBCN Bank. “It is also an opportunity for BBCN to help showcase the growing importance of the Korean community, and we encourage everyone to attend the exhibition.”
As part of its sponsorship, BBCN Bank has created a special 2013 calendar that features objects from the Getty Museum’s permanent collection. This calendar will be distributed to all BBCN Bank customers across the U.S. Additionally, as part of the sponsorship arrangement, BBCN Bank will feature promotional signage at all their Southern California branches around the time of the exhibition, and bank customers will receive a 10% discount at the Getty’s Museum Stores, simply by showing their BBCN Bank debit or credit card during the run of the exhibition.
“We are pleased to be partnering with BBCN Bank on this exhibition, the content of which should have particular interest for Southern California’s large Korean community,” explains Dr. Timothy Potts, Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum. “Through our collaboration, we hope to foster a broader awareness of Korean and European history, while highlighting an important cross-cultural work of art in the Getty’s collection.”
A number of related events are scheduled during the run of the exhibition, including a lecture, scholarly symposium, Korean culinary workshops, a fashion show of replica costumes from the Joseon dynasty, and a Korean-themed family festival. A full schedule of events will be announced closer to the exhibition’s March 2013 opening.