An ‘artistic liberal,’ new head of Seoul Museum of Art gears up to bring about changes


The new director of Seoul Museum of Art, Kim Hong-hee, labels herself an “artistic liberal.”

“I am interested in the avant-garde, the underground, and have run alternative art spaces. I believe that alternative things change culture, and that a museum director who used to be an individual curator can bring innovation,” Kim told The Korea Herald at her new office situated in Seosomun-dong, Seoul.

Kim started her two-year term on Jan. 12. Previously, she served as head of Ssamzie-gil for several years starting in 1999 and of Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art from 2006 to 2010. She was especially recognized in the art field after she was commissioned for the Korean pavilion at the 2003 Venice Art Biennale and directed the 2006 Gwangju Biennale.

She studied French literature at Ewha Womans University, earned an M.A. in Western art history at Concordia University in Canada and a Ph.D. in art history at Hongik University in Seoul.

Kim applied for SeMA instead of the National Museum of Contemporary Art ― the two museums went on the search for a new head at about the same time ― because it seemed to her that the national museum post would require administrative techniques more than her art curation skills.

“Although Seoul is Korea’s capital and one of the biggest cities in the world, SeMA is not living up to that reputation yet. It is very important to bring SeMA up to the level of the global standard. I wanted to try out for the big job,” said Kim.

Being an “artistic liberal” means to establish a “post-museum” which is free from the old conventions of existing art museums, and that is not far from the progressive policies of the new Seoul Metropolitan Government, she said.

“I reveal my political color through art and do not ‘code’ myself politically. But now (that Park Won-soon is Seoul mayor) I am expecting that the atmosphere will be open to ‘artistic liberals,’” she said, adding that Park recognizes what she did to run alternative spaces and discover and promote young artists.

To be more precise, Kim said, what she will try to get rid of are traditions in collection and exhibition policies that museums tend to stick to so firmly even though the art world is changing very quickly.

“Traditions cannot handle the fast-changing society and culture. Art museums have to change, too. We will expand artists’ residency programs, begin various alternative art programs, and shed light on veteran artists who are sort of lost in between up-and-coming artists and masters. I hope SeMA will become a museum which many want to benchmark.“

About criticisms that SeMA holds too many blockbuster shows that garner visitors but are of dubious quality and do not help establish the museum’s identity, Kim hinted it will be different from now on.

“I don’t think blockbuster exhibitions are so bad, but our curators should organize them instead of outside producers. And it should be more about contemporary artists like Paik Nam-june or Joseph Beuys instead of modern artists like Picasso,” said Kim.

Contemporary art will be the key in expanding the museum’s collections as well. Aiming to go for “depth” instead of “width,” Kim started an analysis of the museum’s collections. SeMA currently holds 3,342 artworks and this year’s budget for new acquisitions has been set at 2.7 billion won.

“Modern art should be collected by NMOCA, which has a bigger budget. SeMA will focus on contemporary art since 1950,” said Kim.

By Park Min-young (claire@heraldcorp.com)