National Museum of Asian Art Dedication Ceremony for Do Ho Suh’s Public Figures

18:00-19:30, Wednesday, May 22
West Building Plaza

Dedication Ceremony Remarks
Amb. KIM Gheewhan
President, The Korea Foundation

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen:

Thank you, Director Chase Robinson, for organizing this special Korean Art event today. Thank you all distinguished participants for coming, and welcome to the ‘Public Figures’ Dedication Ceremony at National Museum of Asian Art. I am Gheewhan Kim, president of Korea Foundation.

It is great to visit Washington D.C. and the National Museum of Asian Art today, during Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, celebrating the dedication of the artwork, ‘Public Figures’ by Do Ho Suh, one of the most significant contemporary artists from Korea.

It is also my great honor and pleasure to commemorate the centennial of National Museum of Asian Art, and to welcome the next hundred years, together with all distinguished participants and supporters present today.

During the past 15 years, NMAA has been a strong and valued partner to KF, doing many significant joint projects together. Public Figures by Do Ho Suh is one of those special projects and will become the first artwork that visitors would see for 5 years from now on when they come to Washington D.C. and visit the Museum.

Art conveys thoughts and values and has great influence on us in ways that words cannot. I am grateful for being present here, celebrating this important event of partnership between KF and NMAA.

Another good news I share with you today is that KF and NMAA are collaborating to establish an endowed Korean Art curatorship at the Museum soon.

In closing, I would like to thank the leadership of National Museum of Asian Art, especially curator Carol Huh, for preparing this timely and excellent exhibition, and thank all distinguished participants and supporters for their presence and support to Korean art.

Thank you.