금산사 미륵전 불상과 김복진

Abstract

The proper beginning of modern sculpture in Korea was reinforced dynamically by the emergence of Kim Bok-jin in the 1920s. As a pioneer, Kim also accomplished remarkable achievements in the art of the Buddha statues. In that he spent a long time in prison as a socialism thinker, his immersion in the Buddhist world is an interesting fact. Due to his broad ideological spectrum from socialist thought to Buddhist ideology, his perspective as a sculptor can be approached from a wide range of views. Kim spent five and a half years behind bars as a result of his participation in the socialial ideology movement. In prison, he produced a number of wooden Buddha statues. He studied at a temple in Tokyo before entering properly into socialist thought, and he experienced a temporary monastic life, receiving his ordination there. In other words, Kim was able to produce remarkable pieces of artwork from his youthful 20s under the backdrop of broad ideological ideas from socialist thought to Buddhist ideology. The Buddha statues are also included in the pieces of artwork. Therefore, Kim's Buddha statues are also noteworthy in terms of the Buddhist sculpture created according to a new sense of art in the modern times.