On March 16, 2017, NS Home Shopping opened the ‘Napoleon Gallery’ in the NS Home Shopping Annex in Pangyo Techno Valley, which displays the Napoleon bicorne hat and 8 related artifacts acquired through auction by Harim Group Chairman Kim Hong-guk.
On display here is the bicorne worn by Emperor Napoleon I during the Battle of Marengo. In addition, you can see eight Napoleon relics, including a portrait and letters of Napoleon, a silver cup used by Napoleon, and a sword given as a reward to a general.
The bicorne on display was worn by Napoleon himself during the battle against the Austrian army on the plains of Marengo, Italy, in June, after crossing the Alps in May 1800, and was gifted to his accompanying veterinarian. The Monaco royal family purchased it from the veterinarian’s descendants in 1926 and kept it.
The Battle of Marengo, which took place in the Italian plain of Marengo, was a battle in which Napoleon led a 40,000-strong army across the Alps, an ‘impregnable fortress’, and fought against the Austrian army. It is known as a battle that reminds many people of Napoleon’s famous saying, ‘There is nothing impossible in my dictionary.’
There are similarities between the challenging spirit revealed in Napoleon’s bicorne hat and the life of Chairman Kim Hong-guk. Chairman Kim is a self-made businessman. Born into a family of public servants, he pioneered his own path despite his parents’ disapproval of their son who showed more interest in business than studies.
At the Napoleon Gallery, which has been reborn as a sympathetic space of positivity and challenge through the bicorn worn by Napoleon himself, we met curator Yang Su-bin and heard an explanation about the Napoleon Gallery.
Q1. About Napoleon Gallery
Curator Yang Su-bin: In 2014, Harim Group Chairman Kim Hong-guk heard that Napoleon’s hat was being sold at Osena Auction in France and sent an auction agent to France. After a fierce competition with a museum in Japan, Napoleon’s hat and bicorne hat were auctioned for 2.6 billion won, about five times higher than the expected price.
In addition, there are valuable works that show the era and culture of the time, such as a portrait of Napoleon and a sword, so you can also appreciate the historical background. It was originally kept by the royal family of Monaco, and it is known that the relic was released to raise money for repairs to the royal family. Chairman Kim Hong-guk made a plan to establish a gallery to display these relics, and after about three years, the Napoleon Gallery was established in Pangyo Techno Valley in 2017.
Q2. Introduction to major exhibits
Curator Yang Su-bin: The bicorne hat was worn by Napoleon after crossing the Alps in May 1800 during the battle against the Grand Austrian Army on the plains of Marengo, Italy in June. It is famous for being the battle where Napoleon left the famous saying, “There is nothing impossible in my dictionary.”
The hat is made of traditional French felt and beaver leather, the highest quality fur material of the time, and the lining is made of quilted silk. The circular decoration hanging on this side is composed of blue-white-red and represents the national flag of France. Each contains the meaning of freedom, equality, and love for one’s country. Even after 200 years, the angles of the hat remain sharp and are in excellent state of preservation.
Q3. Who do you recommend visiting?
Curator Yang Su-bin: I recommend a visit to people who need motivation in life. Pangyo, where innovative companies and startups are gathered, is a place where young people frequent. If you live a life immersed in repetitive daily life and work, you tend to lose your dreams and become complacent with your daily routine.
Napoleon Gallery was established under the company with the hope of fostering dreams and hopes with a positive mind through Napoleon’s relics and the trajectory of his life. Chairman Kim Hong-guk decided to open the gallery for free in the hope that the Napoleon Gallery would be a small gift that could be given to teenagers and the young generation.
Q4. Introduction to programs and events held at Napoleon Gallery
Curator Yang Soobin: Starting in July, a program for children visiting the Napoleon Gallery will be held. We plan to distribute the Napoleon coloring book and bicorne making kit, and further details will be announced through an announcement on the website.
Group viewing reservations are also possible. A curating course is conducted in teams of five for 20 minutes, and you can also watch an animation about Napoleon’s life. The Napoleon Gallery website is actively operated, so it would be a good idea to refer to it before visiting.
Q5. The message Napoleon Gallery wants to convey to visitors Curator Yang Su-bin: This year is the 200th anniversary of Napoleon’s death. To this day, Napoleon is still talked about as the most challenging and positive person in the world. Napoleon’s life conveys the need to have a challenging, enterprising, and positive attitude rather than settling for an easy life. He will be a worthwhile viewing for those who are afraid of challenges and are complacent with reality. Napoleon’s message of following my path even if I don’t succeed is simple yet powerful, and has a unique resonance for us today.
Source: Pangyo Techno Valley Official Newsroom
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