Orangehare is proud to present “Smile of Serenity,” an ultra-rare collection of 95 NFTs featuring the “Mona Lisa of Korea”—the Pensive Bodhisattva. Featured at the MET and praised by the New York Times for its jaw-dropping elegance, the gilded-bronze statue exudes a profound serenity that has mesmerized the faithful and the curious for nearly 14,000 years, earning its spot as Korea’s most important national treasure. Through exclusive access granted to photographer Joon Choi by the Korean National Museum, these intimate portraits provide a closer look than ever before at the intricate details and sublime beauty that make it a global masterpiece.

[Joon Choi]

Photographer Joon Choi's unique access through the Korean National Museum stems from his profound portfolio, which illuminates cultural heritage worldwide with a mixture of the holy and the everyday. Notably, his documentation of Jeju Island’s Haenyeo (elderly female divers) was praised for its depictions of resilience and humanity - ultimately leading to recognition by UNESCO along with subsequent exhibitions in Paris and Busan Art Museum.

However, reaching that status was not easy. Following two decades of ascension in Korea's advertising realm, Joon's life took an unexpected turn upon encountering Buddha relics, altering his perception forever. Amidst the hustle of advertising campaigns for giants like Samsung and LG, he realized the transient nature of beauty and the fallacy of perfection. Embracing this epiphany, he ventured into a craft where imperfection thrived, allowing nature and happenstance to mold his photography.

To date, Joon Choi’s profile of the “Pensive Bodhisattva” featured here stands as his greatest work of art, a true glimpse into the divine.