ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

British Museum Opens 'Korea' Exhibition Surveying 2,000 Years of Creativity

exhibition · 2026-09-28

The British Museum in London has unveiled "Korea," an exhibition that explores "2,000 years of creativity" in a region that, prior to its 20th-century hardships, experienced centuries of tranquility, as reflected in its artistic heritage. Following the immense popularity of the museum's Bayeux tapestry exhibit, which has elevated its status to potentially the top museum globally, this new show is characterized as a blockbuster with a significant drawback: "a lovely broken vase badly stuck together." Initially, visitors are captivated by stunning works, including a massive bronze bell from an eighth-century Buddhist monastery adorned with dragons and floral designs, setting a meditative ambiance. However, the transition to modern pieces disrupts this enchanting experience, as noted in the review.

Key facts

  • The British Museum in London has opened "Korea," a survey of "2,000 years of creativity."
  • The exhibition follows the runaway success of the museum's Bayeux tapestry display.
  • The review calls the show a blockbuster with a tragic flaw, "a lovely broken vase badly stuck together."
  • A giant bronze bell from a Buddhist monastery, cast in the eighth century AD, opens the exhibition.
  • The bell features dragons, flames and flowery embossments and is accompanied by a gong.
  • Earthenware in the show is described as exquisite enough to soothe the soul.
  • The review says a lurch into the modern breaks the spell of the exhibition.
  • The review appears in The Guardian and is dated September 28, 2026.

Entities

Institutions

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Korea

Sources