Five Hundred Arhats

The Five Hundred Arhats were discovered in 2001–02 among the ruins of the Changnyeongsa temple in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do Province in South Korea and are believed to be between 600 and 1000 years old. In Buddhism, an arhat – or nahan in Korean – is one who has attained enlightenment and these stone figures are thought to depict 500 disciples of Buddha.

This exhibition features arhat statues with lifelike expressions, from joy and serenity to anger and sorrow: the gamut of human emotion. Incorporated into an installation created by artist Kim Seung Young made up of more than 1000 audio speakers, the exhibition suggests the arhats are meditating in an attitude of intimate, reclusive poise amidst a cacophony that evokes the distracting bustle of urban life.

Produced in collaboration with the Chuncheon National Museum (Korea) the exhibition will mark the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Australia and serve as a poignant reminder that each of us is a noble being with the potential to attain enlightenment.

Major Sponsor

• Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea

Supporters

• Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange

• Korean Cultural Centre Australia

• Australia-Korea Foundation, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade