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Exploring Modern and Contemporary Korean Art at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA)
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Exploring Modern and Contemporary Korean Art
at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA)
If you're looking to explore the evolution of Korean art from the dawn of modernization to cutting-edge AI-driven works, there’s no better place than the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA).
With over 11,800 works in its collection—including the prestigious Lee Kun-hee Collection donated by the late Samsung chairman's family—the MMCA is currently hosting a series of exhibitions across its branches in Gwacheon, Seoul, and Deoksugung, offering a panoramic view of Korean modern and contemporary art.
From the Korean Empire to the Korean War: "Korean Modern and Contemporary Art I" at Gwacheon
At the MMCA Gwacheon branch, the permanent exhibition "Korean Modern and Contemporary Art I" traces the beginnings of modern Korean art from the late Joseon Dynasty to the post-Korean War era.
Influenced by new technologies like microscopes, telescopes, and cameras introduced by emissaries to the Qing Dynasty, traditional Korean painting (“seohwa”) evolved to become more detailed and realistic.
You can see this transformation in works such as Kim Kyu-jin’s Haegeumgang Chongseok (1920) and Chae Yong-shin’s portraits (1924–1925).
By the early 20th century, the term “art” began to replace “seohwa.”
Artists like Na Hye-seok introduced Western artistic movements and anatomical studies from Japan, including nude paintings—an unprecedented genre in Korea at the time.
During the 1930s and ’40s, themes like modern women and leisure entered Korean painting, while traditional scenes like thatched cottages and folk customs also remained popular.
The Korean War marked a major turning point, leading to abstract and conceptual explorations of trauma and human fragility.
Notable among these is Kwon Jin-kyu’s sculpture Mother and Child (1960s), which expresses post-war familial warmth.
This exhibition includes 145 works by 70 artists, 42 of which come from the Lee Kun-hee Collection.
Special sections spotlight key figures like Oh Ji-ho, Kim Ki-chang and Park Rae-hyun (the artist couple), and Lee Jung-seop, one of Korea’s most beloved painters.
- 📍 MMCA Gwacheon
- 💵 Admission: 3,000 KRW
- 🗓️ “Korean Modern and Contemporary Art II” (focused on post-1950s works) opens June 26
From the 1960s to Contemporary Video Art: "Highlights of Korean Contemporary Art" in Seoul
To explore post-liberation Korean art, visit the Seoul branch and its permanent exhibition "Highlights of Korean Contemporary Art".
Spanning from the 1960s to the 2010s, this exhibit includes genre-defining abstract and experimental works from Kim Whanki, Lee Ufan, and Lee Ungno, as well as politically charged minjung (people’s) art from the 1980s, like Shin Hak-chul’s Who Said We Look Up at the Sky? (1989).
Moving into the 1990s, installation and multimedia works take center stage.
One highlight is Kang Ik-joong’s Samramansang, featuring 8,500 small paintings arranged across a massive 13-meter-high wall.
You’ll also find globally recognized contemporary works, such as:
- Yang Hae-gue’s Female Natives (2010)
- Ahn Kyuchul’s Autistic Door (2009 remake of 2004 piece), a door sculpture surrounded entirely by other doors with no real entry point
- Kim A-young’s AI-based Porosity Valley 2: Trickster Plot (2019), which won the LG Guggenheim Award
- Park Chan-kyong’s The Bodhisattva Who Appeared Late (2019)
- 📍 MMCA Seoul
- 💵 Admission: 2,000 KRW
- 🖼️ Total of 86 works, including 9 from the Lee Kun-hee Collection
Surrealism in Korea? “Surrealism and Korean Modern Art” at Deoksugung
The MMCA Deoksugung branch is hosting the special exhibition “Surrealism and Korean Modern Art” until July 6.
While surrealism originated in 1920s France, its influence on Korean art during the Japanese colonial period was minimal due to historical constraints.
Nevertheless, several pioneering Korean artists—many of whom studied in Japan—experimented with surrealist styles.
The exhibition reevaluates six lesser-known artists who explored surrealist themes. Highlights include:
- Kim Jong-nam, a Zainichi Korean artist who dealt with identity struggles
- Kim Wook-kyu, a reclusive artist whose untitled and undated works were discovered posthumously
- Kim Young-hwan, a founding member of the Modern Artists Association who used surrealism to confront post-war reality
A standout piece is Kim Jong-nam’s Waterside (1941), which densely depicts flora and fauna in an eerie yet realistic manner, evoking a sense of uncanny nature.
In total, over 300 works—both overtly surrealist and unintentionally influenced by the movement—are on display.
- 📍 MMCA Deoksugung
- 💵 Admission: 2,000 KRW (Deoksugung palace entrance ticket required separately)
- 🗓️ Through July 6, 2025
These exhibitions offer a comprehensive and immersive journey through Korea’s artistic evolution, from traditional influences and early modern experimentation to bold contemporary innovations.
Whether you're an art enthusiast, a student of Korean history, or simply curious about the country's cultural narrative, a visit to the MMCA’s branches provides a profound window into Korea’s visual soul.
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Source : https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/032/0003370235
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