한국의 첫 상업화랑은?

Gallery retraces 40 years of Korean art 

 

There was time when the idea of selling art came as a shock to most people.

"I was in my senior year in college in 1970 when Gallery Hyundai opened in Insa-dong. I saw a small article introducing the brand new business under the headline, 'We sell paintings.' The story would make you laugh now, but back then it was so interesting. It produced a similar sensation as the article that said 'A pizza place opened in Itaewon' in the 1980s," wrote Yoo Hong-jun, former director of the Cultural Heritage Administration and currently a professor at Myongji University, in a recent review.

Gallery Hyundai, which presented a delightful surprise to many art lovers in Korea 40 years ago, is currently holding the exhibition "2010 In the Midst of the Korean Contemporary Art" to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Though it is held by a single gallery, the exhibition pretty thoroughly covers Korean art history of nearly half a century.

All of Gallery Hyundai's three buildings - two in Sagan-dong and one in Sinsa-dong - are packed with 170 masterpieces by 68 renowned Korean artists like Park Soo-keun, Lee Joong-seop, Chun Kyung-ja and Lee Ung-no.

This big scale exhibition was possible because the artists have all participated in some exhibitions held by Gallery Hyundai over the decades and gained fame through them.

Being one of Korea's first commercial galleries, Gallery Hyundai focused on introducing veteran artists from the start.

Starting with the Park Soo-keun exhibition in 1970, Gallery Hyundai continuously held special solo exhibitions featuring big artists, like Lee Joong-seop in 1972 and Chun Kyung-ja in 1973.

These three exhibitions not only turned the artists into big stars but proved that art exhibitions could be major events that gather large crowds.

Though solo exhibitions were a remarkable improvement at a time when there were hardly any opportunities for artists to show their works to the public, critics said the gallery focused too much on sales and only offered chances to established artists. It was only recently that it opened another gallery named Do Art, which aims to introduce young artists.

Despite such criticism, it is hard to deny that Gallery Hyundai led the art gallery boom in Korea. Soon after Gallery Hyundai moved to its current place in Sagan-dong in 1975, different galleries started to emerge in Insa-dong in 1976.

By 1978, more than 30 galleries were hosting shows and the Galleries Association of Korea was soon established.

Besides, Gallery Hyundai "has always had the insight and ceaselessly endeavored to never miss out on a single artist who would be recorded in history," as artist Kim Tschang-yeul commented. In that case, this exhibition is something art fans would definitely not want to miss.

The exhibition is overflowing with representative works of Korean masters, making it hard to pick out the highlights.

In Sagan-dong, oriental paintings by Kim Ki-chang, Chun Kyung-ja, Park Saeng-kwang and more will be showcased in the main building and occidental paintings by Chang Ucchin, Kim Chong-hak, Kim Whan-ki and more will be shown in the new building. Abstract paintings and installation works by Kim Tschang-yeul, Park Seo-bo, Paik Nam-june and more can be found at the Gangnam Space.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 10 at Gallery Hyundai in Sagan-dong, central Seoul and Gallery Hyundai Gangnam Space in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. For more information, call (02) 2287-3500 for the Sagan-dong Gallery, (02) 519-0800 for the Sinsa-dong Gallery or visit www.galleryhyundai.com

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young

[백남준 46년전 첫 전시의 재현전] Paik Nam-june's debut in focus again

One of the most notable events in modern art happened at Parnass Gallery in Wuppertal, Germany in March, 1964. A cow's head dangled from the ceiling at the entrance and visitors had to crawl under a giant balloon to enter the exhibition room. Inside, among all sorts of junk, including broken pianos, a wrecked sewing machine, old cans and keys, thirteen televisions stood there buzzing. The scene on the screen changed following the visitors' actions. It was the first solo exhibition of video artist Paik Nam-june, named "EXPosition of Music - ELectronic Television." This sensational show not only changed Paik's life, but also introduced brand new material into modern art - electric media.

   Forty-six years later, Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin city is shedding new light  on Paik's first exhibition through the exhibition "The EXPosition of Mythology - ELectric Technology."

It is not the first attempt to do this. The Vienna Contemporary Art Museum in Austria has already hosted an exhibition to commemorate Paik's first exhibition in March.

After seeing the show and realizing the importance of Paik's first exhibition, Lee Young-cheol, director of Nam June Paik Art Center, decided to hold another reinterpreted version of the exhibition - which will hopefully be even better - in Paik's home country.

Lee made extensive research and gathered some artists who were ready to play with, reinterpret and parody Paik's ideas.

He made the exhibition title in the same style as that of Paik's first exhibition so that it could be abbreviated to "EXPEL." Paik intended to expel all typical barriers and divisions in art and philosophy, explained Lee.

"Paik was more than just a video artist. This exhibition should be the introduction to start some major research about him. I hope it can be the opportunity to show Paik's importance in the world's art history."

More than thirty pieces by 21 Korean and international contemporary artists are on display at the exhibition. The work either shows homage or some sort of connection to Paik's work.

Jimmie Durham is into smashing things, a common theme of Paik's performances. In Durham's video, the artist sits behind a desk as different people place objects in front of him, requesting him to smash them. Without hesitation he crushes the objects with rocks. Once they are completely destroyed, he hands a signed sheet which confirms his finished action and greets his next visitor.

Tilo Baumgartel showcases a painting of a nurse feeding an ape in a well-furnished dining room. Like Paik, the artist refuses any kind of hierarchy or separation.

Hong Chul-ki installed his work in the center's restrooms as Paik did at his first exhibition. Hong's work makes noises whenever the visitors turn on the water or open the restroom's door.

Some original work by Paik can also be found at the exhibition, including "Zen for TV," and "Tiger Lives."

The exhibition runs through Oct. 4 at Nam June Paik Art Center in Sanggal-dong, Yongin city in Gyeonggi Province. It takes about 30 minutes from Gangnam Station by bus. Admission is free. For more information, call (031) 201-8527 or visit www.njpartcenter.kr

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young

[멀티플 다이얼로그] Kang seeks balance in homage

2009.2.9

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The "Multiple Dialogue ?" exhibition at the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon will send your eyes spinning.

TV screens form an 18 meter high tower in the center of the room, and the countless colorful squares glued on the walls that surround the tower add to the confusion.

Artist Kang Ik-Joong installed his work "Samramansang," which means "all creations" in Korean, around the "The More The Better," by prominent video artist Paik Nam-june.

"These are the biggest and most representative installation works ever of the two world famous artists," said Lim Dae-geun, curator of the exhibition.

The current exhibition is a sequel to an exhibition of the same name that the artists held at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York in 1994.

However, this exhibition is more like Kang's way of paying homage to late Paik, who was not only his artistic mentor but also someone he most sincerely respected.

Kang told the press on Thursday that he could never forget how considerate and full of insight Paik was.

Before their exhibition at the Whitney Museum, Paik sent an e-mail to the museum saying '"I am very flexible. It is important that Ik-Joong has the better space."

"He was a shaman who sees stars even in daylight," Kang reminisced.

Influenced by Paik, Kang himself also became an acclaimed artist. Even those who do not recognize his name right away would probably have seen the glowing wall filled with moon jar paintings covering the construction site of Gwanghwamun since 2007. It is Kang's art piece named "Mountain-Wind (Dream of Kwang Hwa)."

For "Samramansang," Kang covered the 200 meters long spiral wall around Paik's masterpiece with 60 thousand works and little objects. He used various videos, sounds, media, and objects to create "all creations" possible.

"It occurred to me that Paik Nam-june wanted to make the TV tower look like a rocket," Kang said, pointing to Paik's work.

"As his junior, I felt it was my responsibility to light it up, help it shoot through the sky."

According to Kang, his work is supposed to be a mountain. So naturally, the best way to absorb it is to climb up.

"Viewers can see the 'Samramansang' we encounter while we climb a mountain," Kang explained.

Birds chirp, water flows, and recordings of monks chanting sutra play from tiny moon jars installed on the walls. A yellow moon made from a glow lamp shines through an old wash basin, and lights streak down from a waterfall made of white LED lights.

"As Paik's video tower heads upwards, I tried to even things out by making a waterfall that goes down. And because Paik's videos pulse quickly, I made mine breathe slowly," said Kang.

Kang made efforts to make his work to balance, mix and communicate with Paik's works "like bibimbap," as Paik used to say when referring to his art.

The exhibition runs until Feb. 7, 2010 at National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Admission is free. The museum is closed on Mondays. For more information, call (02) 2188-6114 or visit www.moca.go.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)

[63스카이아트] An exhibition in the clouds

2008.12.10

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Can you imagine wandering through an art gallery so high up that its windows show clouds outside?

This is possible at 63 Sky Art in Yeouido, southwestern Seoul, the world's highest museum. Its exhibition, "Wander on the Sky," started last week.

Located on the 60th floor of the 63 building, a major landmark in the capital city, 63 Sky Art took the title of world's highest museum away from Tokyo's Mori Art Museum, which is on the 53rd floor, when it opened last year.

The 60th floor - 264 meters above sea level - is where the observation deck, a popular spot for tourists, used to be. No need to worry, though; visitors may still enjoy the remarkable view of Seoul through the gigantic windows and coin-operated binoculars.

"Many visitors commented that the observation deck offered literally nothing to see but the outside view. So we thought some art would give the visitors something more to enjoy," said museum vice-president Yoo Deok-jong at a press conference last Friday.

"About 2 million people visit the 63 building every year. It is the clearly the landmark of Seoul by height, and with this art museum, we hope it could also become a cultural landmark," he added.

To promote its debut, the exhibition displays 63 pieces of sky-themed art. More than 30 well-known artists, including Lee U Fan, Zou Wei, Andy Warhol and Paik Nam-june have their paintings, sculptures, photos, videos and installations presented. The exposition is divided into three parts: "Sky of dream and fantasy," "Sky of freedom and infinity," and "Sky of love and innocence of a child."

In the first section, Kwon Ki-soo, a painter famous for his "donguri" character, drew a smiling donguri in "Flying." He also showcases his new work "Layers" for the first time.

Kwon O-chul's astrophotographs make viewers doubt their eyes. Falling stars stand still behind a glowing tree and millions of stars embroider the purple sky.

Paik's video art "Neptune" is notable in the second section, but since it is placed on the first basement floor it would be better for viewing before going up to the museum.

In the third division, "Moon Explore Robot," a painting of Andy Warhol, and the witty sculptures of Kim So-yeon and Lee Kyu-min add to the fun.

While there, make sure you visit the restroom, which was decorated with flower stickers by artist Park Ki-sung.

This museum's greatest charm, though, is that viewers are able to take glances of the Seoul view between art pieces.

"Visit once more at night time. With the Han river flowing by, the night view is breathtaking," said Kwon A-reum, the curator. The museum is open until midnight everyday.

The current exhibition runs through March 15. Tickets are 12,000 won for adults, 11,000 won for adolescents and 10,000 won for children. For more information, call (02) 789-5663 or visit www.63.co.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)