Chaekgeori: Pleasure of Possessions in Korean Painted Screens is the first international exhibition in the US to explore the artistic evolution of a distinctive pictorial genre called chaekgeori (pronounced check-oh-ree).

Translated as “books and things,” chaekgeori refers to a style of still-life painting, first developed in Korea around the late 1700s, that creates the illusion of three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface. By the late 1800s, chaekgeori screens had become a popular furnishing item to decorate the Korean collector’s studio, displaying his high aesthetic taste and socioeconomic status.

The show invites viewers to witness an exciting moment when Koreans became active participants in global consumerism through their passionate collecting activities.