Explore the evolution of Korean contemporary art!

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) present two special 30-minute screenings of MMCA curator talks that explore how Korean art developed in the 20th century to become one of the world’s hottest art scenes today.

Inside Korean Art highlights key examples from current exhibitions in Korea and features MMCA expert curators as they outline major trends and changes in the past century of Korean art, from the early twentieth century to the postwar emergence of abstraction and experimental art. Guests can also join an in-person introduction and Q&A with the KCCDC’s own art curator while browsing the contemporary art exhibition Connecting Lines after the screenings. 

Presented here for the first time with full English subtitles, the MMCA talks provide valuable context and are a complement to understanding Connecting Lines, currently on view at KCCDC. Each screening is designed to provide a broader picture of the history and development of modern and contemporary Korean art that forms the foundation of these artists’ innovative practices.

Part 1 on May 22 presents a conversation between the curators on MMCA’s permanent exhibition collection, introducing key artists and major artistic movements across different periods from the early 1900s to today. Part 2 on May 29 explores influential post-war Korean artist collectives such as the Modern Art Association (1957–1960), one of the first independent artist groups in Korea which helped shape the abstract visual language of future generations. After each screening, guests are invited to browse Connecting Lines and chat with the curator.

Experience Inside Korean Art and the exhibition Connecting Lines in concert and gain a profound new appreciation for the modern and contemporary art of Korea.

Inside Korean Art: Screening & Curator Talks

May 22 & 29 at 6:00 PM (both days)

Korean Cultural Center Washington, DC

Part 1: Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Korean Art (May 22) | RSVP

Part 2: Focus on 1950 – 1960s Korean Art (May 29) | RSVP

Timeline (both dates):

6:00 PM: Introduction to Korean Art and Connecting Lines
6:10 PM: Inside Korean Art (screening)
6:40 PM: Connecting Lines exhibition self-guided tour and Q&A

All screenings are presented in Korean with English subtitles.

Part 1: Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Korean Art

May 22 at 6:00 PM

RSVP FOR THIS EVENT!

Modern and contemporary Korean art is often divided around the period following the Korean War in the 1950s, and MMCA’s Gwacheon branch has organized its permanent exhibition around the year 1950.

This talk by MMCA Curators Yi Soojung and Lee Hyunju discusses both works from before the 1950s, in chronological order, and Korean art post-1950, organized by both historical periods and artistic themes, highlighting the characteristics of different artists and movements. In this screening, two MMCA curators guide viewers through the branch’s exhibition galleries and introduce their overall structure and themes.

Part 2: Focus on 1950 – 1960s Korean Art

May 29 at 6:00 PM

RSVP FOR THIS EVENT!

Korean modern art underwent significant changes following the 1950-53 Korean War, particularly through the emergence of artist collectives formed in the late 1950s and the 1960s. MMCA’s Cheongju branch presents an exhibition exploring these groups, including the Modern Art Association (1957–1960), one of the first independent artist groups in Korea.

The exhibition introduces artists who challenged the realism-centered National Art Exhibition of Korea (Kukjeon) and experimented with abstraction and modernist practices while developing their own distinctive visual language. This talk by MMCA Curator Lee Hyojin will help viewers explore how these artist collectives contributed to the development of Korean abstract art and laid the foundation for future contemporary Korean art.