The arts of Asia collection includes some of the museum’s earliest holdings, dating back to 1915, even before it was known as the Denver Art Museum. In the century since then, the collection has grown to over seven thousand objects that span about six thousand years, showcasing the diverse cultures of Asia, including works from Korea, China, Japan, India, and the Islamic world.
Since the 1940s, the museum has positioned itself as a world art museum that brings the best of the world’s art and culture to the people of Denver and our visitors from farther afield. In recent years, the city of Denver has seen its international arts and culture community flourish, and the museum is dedicated to providing new world views to all of our visitors.
For this reason, we are grateful for the generous support from the National Museum of Korea, and in particular Yoon Sung Yong, the Director General. Major loans from NMK for the special exhibition Perfectly Imperfect: Korean Buncheong Ceramics allow us to tell the enduring stories of Korean art and how seemingly rustic ceramics, some made over six hundred years ago, still speak to contemporary painters, ceramicists, and even musicians.
While many are familiar with Korean cuisine and K-pop, this exhibition introduces audiences to the further rich historical contexts of Korean culture. This exhibition, though intimate in scale, is a meaningful step forward for the museum in introducing Korean art and culture to our audiences.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to the additional lenders to this exhibition, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, the artists participating in the exhibition, and private collectors, as well as the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), which continually provides welcome support to our exhibitions and programs. I am excited to say that Seoul and Denver are closer than they ever have been.
Christoph Heinrich
Frederick and Jan Mayer Director
Denver
Art Museum