Pour in cold water and the scholar’s face turns red

Pour cold water into a clear glass and a scholar wearing a traditional gat hat blushes. Small flowers appear around him too. Alcohol is not required. The Three Drunken Scholars color-changing glass set from MU:DS, the National Museum Foundation of Korea's merchandise brand, uses the drink's temperature to make the painted figures appear tipsy. Filling a glass becomes a small visual story.

The figures come from the National Museum of Korea's painting “Welcoming Banquet for the Governor of Pyeongan,” attributed to Kim Hong-do. It depicts festivities hosted by the governor, with boats on the Daedong River, musicians, and people along the banks. The designers selected neither the main guests nor the grand buildings, but small drunken figures struggling to stay upright.

Each of the three glasses has a different image. One figure sits on the ground; another needs support. Their gestures remain in black outlines, while thermochromic pigment on the faces and flowers responds to temperature. The product description says the change begins at 18°C or below and becomes pronounced at 10°C or below. The drink provides the next stage of the picture without electronics or a battery.

The set was selected through the MU:DS product competition in the second half of 2023. The competition brings in products developed outside the museum using its collections. This is one route beyond designing every item in-house. The glasses credit the design company EYZ, whose selection and redrawing of details from a painting took the form of usable glassware.

The change does not always happen at the same speed. Official instructions say ambient temperature and use conditions affect how quickly the color appears. An empty glass can redden on a cold day and fade again in a warm place. Abrasive scrubbers and dishwashers can damage the print. It is a temperature-sensitive image rather than a prop guaranteed to change instantly every time.

Bringing a large banquet painting home need not mean hanging a reproduction. Three glasses placed side by side invite a comparison of seated poses and supporting gestures. Cold water changes the faces. Figures easily overlooked among the crowds in the original become the first thing noticed when a glass is filled.