MMCA announces finalists for 2019 Korea Artist Prize

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, on Thursday announced the four finalists for the 2019 Korea Artist Prize: Kim A-young, Park Hye-soo, Rhii Jew-yo and Hong Young-in. An exhibition of works by the four artists will open Oct. 12 and run through March 1, 2020. The winner of the annual art award will be announced before year-end, after a jury reviews the works presented at the upcoming exhibition. The four finalists were selected by a four-member jury composed of Bartomeu Ma

March 14, 2019

Yang Jung-uk is a storyteller

Born in 1982, Yang Jung-uk is an artist loaded with stories that have become ingredients for his works of art. Yang does not borrow from a grand scheme of discourse or critical theories distant from himself. Instead, the artist makes full use of details collected throughout his life.“Scenery of Dialogue No. 2: Speaking of Something When the Sun Goes Down” (2018) by artist Yang Jung-uk (Gallery Hyundai)Yang is holding an exhibition at Gallery Hyundai that began Feb. 28 and runs until March 27. Th

March 12, 2019

Three Korean artists to show at 2019 Venice Biennale main exhibition

Korean artists Lee Bul, Suki Seokyeong Kang and Anicka Yi -- are joining the main exhibition of 2019 Venice Biennale, titled “May You Live in Interesting Times” and curated by Ralph Rugoff.The three female Korean artists are among 83 artists -- with some working in pairs and groups -- who will have their works at the Ralph Rugoff-curated exhibition at two venues, the Giardini and the Arsenale.  “Untitled (Willing To Be Vulnerable - Velvet #6 DDRG24OC)” by Lee Bul (PKM Gallery)One of Korea’s most

March 11, 2019

Looking into March 1 Independence Movement in global context

A line of Vietnamese students walks toward a camera. The students in blue shirts are taking turns to recite something -- in Japanese, not Vietnamese as might be expected. What the Vietnamese students are reciting is the Feb. 8 Independence Declaration, a document originally read by some 300 Koreans in Japan in February 1919, a month before the March 1 Independence Movement saw Koreans taking to the streets shouting for independence from Japan’s colonial rule.  A scene from Hikaru Fujii’s “2.8 De

March 10, 2019

[Newsmaker] Big Bang’s Seungri to enlist in Army on March 25

Big Bang’s Seungri will enlist in the Army as an active duty soldier at the end of this month, according to YG Entertainment on Friday.He will start his basic training at the Nonsan Army Training Center on March 25. The K-pop star had reportedly applied for a conscripted policeman service in January.  (Yonhap)“After checking with Seungri, (we found that) Seungri on Jan. 7 applied for a conscripted policeman position. However, he has decided to enlist as an active duty soldier, regardless of the

March 8, 2019

What to expect from the Korean Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennale

“History Has Failed Us, but No Matter.”This bold sentence from the 2017 novel “Pachinko” by Lee Min-jin, a National Book Award finalist, is the title of the Korean Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennale, director Kim Hyun-jin announced Tuesday at a press conference at the Arko Art Center in Seoul. 　 Kim Hyun-jin, director of the 58th Venice Biennale's Korean Pavilion, speaks during a press conference held on Tuesday at Arko Art Center in Seoul. Joining her, from left, are Siren Eun Young Jung, Nam

March 8, 2019

New MMCA director lays out blueprint for state museum

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea Director Youn Bum-mo unveiled plans for the state museum during a press conference held Tuesday at its main branch in Seoul. Cooperation with other state-led museums to nurture research and exhibition; cooperation with North Korea’s art institutions; globalization of Korean art; increasing research into Korean art and specializing the four separate museum venues topped the agenda for his three-year term.Details for execution we

March 6, 2019

Robert Motherwell’s ‘Elegy’ series to be shown in Seoul

Barakat Contemporary, Seoul-based Barakat Gallery’s modern and contemporary art venue, is introducing works by artist Robert Motherwell.The exhibition kicking off Wednesday will feature 23 artworks that Motherwell produced between 1958 and 1985, including those from his iconic painting series “Elegy to the Spanish Republic,” largely characterized by ovoids and vertical beams. “Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 110C” (1968) by Robert Motherwell (Barakat Seoul) “Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 1

March 3, 2019

Exhibition features alternative ways to approach history

A train of cartoonish drawings by Lee Woo-sung encircles the gallery space of Ilmin Museum of Art. The small, square drawings, which look like cuts from a webtoon, or Instagram pictures, are fragments of the artist’s memory of photographs stored in his cellphone, the artist said.“Years ago, I started asking questions about the ways in which people store photographs on online social media and in their cellphones. Then, I thought I could just draw the photographs stored in my own one. I thought I

Feb. 26, 2019

‘It has to be this generation’

Photographer Chris Jordan urges to people to face environmental crisis Environmental issues are an urgent matter that only this generation can address, according to photographer Chris Jordan.“We don’t have enough time to wait for the next generation to make the changes. There is a tremendous urgency. It has to be this generation who makes the changes to our behavior in a lot of different ways to protect life as we know it,” Jordan said during a press conference held Wednesday at the Sungkok Art

Feb. 24, 2019

Artist Don Sun-pil attempts to decode subculture of miniature figures

In the contemporary art scene where everything -- installations and gallery spaces for instance -- tends to become bigger and bigger to achieve “spectacle” status, artist Don Sun-pil has brought miniature figurines of characters from cartoons, animations, games and other subculture productions into the gallery space. Don is holding a solo exhibition at Arario Museum’s underground gallery at Space, an iconic architectural gem from Kim Soo-geun in central Seoul.  Artist Don Sun-pil‘s “Next Back Do

Feb. 20, 2019

Versatile artist Bek Hyun-jin’s latest paintings shown at PKM Gallery

Painter Bek Hyun-jin is holding a solo exhibition at PKM Gallery, titled “Work Song: Soil, Mattress and Waves.” The exhibition, which kicked off Friday at the gallery in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, comprises 65 recent paintings by Bek.Born in 1972, Bek is a multitalented artist who held his first solo exhibition in 1996. As the Uhuboo Project’s vocalist, he is also one of the first generation of local indie musicians, having worked on film soundtracks for internationally acclaimed directors Park Chan

Feb. 17, 2019

D Museum adds colorful designs to art exhibition

The latest exhibition at D Museum’s Hannam-dong branch, “I Draw” comes with 13 sections that have incorporated various design elements in line with the works of art displayed in each space.The 13 sections are designed by architect Kwon Kyung-min. Two local companies, COM and Craft Bros, have designed the interior details to match the mood that each section has. An installation view of “Mysterious Window” shows works by Pierre Le-Tan. (D Museum)An installation view of “The Drawing Room” shows wor

Feb. 14, 2019

Reinterpreting tradition with new furniture for modern lifestyle

Yeol, the Korean Heritage Preservation Society, is holding an exhibition that looks into traditional Korean culture, in conjunction with designer Teo Yang. Yang is a celebrated interior designer who creates modern space designs based on inspiration from traditional Korean culture. Furniture designed by Teo Yang (Yeol) Pieces of furniture designed by Teo Yang are displayed at Yeol Bukchonga in central Seoul. (Im Eun-byel / The Korea Herald)For the exhibition, Yang reinterpreted the concept of “sa

Feb. 13, 2019

Park Chan-Kyong selected for MMCA’s Hyundai Motor Series 2019

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea has selected Park Chan-Kyong as its sixth artist for the MMCA Hyundai Motor Series, the museum announced Wednesday. A special exhibition of Park’s works will take place from Oct. 26 this year to Feb. 23 next year at the MMCA’s Seoul branch, introducing new video works that are two years in the making. Artist Park Chan-kyong (MMCA)Park is a media artist, film director and art critic who has focused on delving into Korea’s sociopolitical hi

Feb. 13, 2019

Mezzotint artist Hwang Kyu-baik’s oil paintings on show in Seoul

Artist Hwang Kyu-baik’s solo exhibition featuring some 20 recent oil paintings opened Tuesday at the Gana Art Center in Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul. Born in 1932, Hwang has earned international recognition for his mezzotint technique. Combining the 17th century European engraving method with elements of traditional Korean culture, Hwang has developed his own lyrical surrealism.  “Moon and Swan” (2016) by artist Hwang Kyu-baik (Gana Art Center) “An Umbrella” (2018) by artist Hwang Kyu-baik (Gana Art

Feb. 12, 2019

Louvre Abu Dhabi introduces Rembrandt, Vermeer

ABU DHABI -- The Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first museum to carry the famed name outside of France, announced Sunday it will roll out works by Dutch masters Rembrandt and Vermeer this month.Works by the two artists are part of the gallery‘s first exhibition this year, entitled “Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from The Leiden collection and the Musee du Louvre”.The Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first museum to carry the famed name outside of France, announced Sunday it would roll out

Feb. 10, 2019

Indonesian artist asks ‘What Would You Do if These Crackers Were Real Pistols?’

Asked “What Would You Do if These Crackers Were Real Pistols?” Indonesian artist FX Harsono replied, “I wanted to shoot my teacher. He was the director of my art school and kicked me out from the school. He was financially corrupted and also part of many scandals associated with women.”The question forms the title of the artist’s 1977 work on display at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Gwacheon branch as part of the exhibition “Awakenings: Art in Society in Asia 1960s-1990s.”

Feb. 10, 2019

Gathering of contemporary art and history of Asia

Suspended in an exhibition hall at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Gwacheon branch is artist Tang Da Wu’s work consisting of seven white pieces of cloth tainted with rainwater and soil, made over 10 days of seeping in a gully.An installation view of Tang Da Wu's "Gully Curtains" (MMCA)The installation by the Singaporean artist, titled “Gully Curtains,” tells a narrative specific to Singapore’s Ang Mo Kio, an area redeveloped in the 1970s.“Awakenings: Art in Society in Asia 1

Feb. 6, 2019

First-generation Korean sculptor Um Tai-jung’s works on view at Arario Gallery

A total of some 50 works by sculptor Um Tai-jung are being exhibited at both branches of Arario Gallery in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul, and Cheonan, North Chungcheong Province. Um is one of the nation’s first-generation modern sculptors, who worked exclusively with metals. Born in 1938, Um graduated from the Department of Sculpture in the College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University. Um also studied at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London -- possibly one of the first Korean artists who

Feb. 4, 2019