Contemporary Korea—particularly in the realms of cultural trends and the arts—possesses a formidable soft power that cannot be overlooked. In celebration of Korea’s National Foundation Day on October 3, Yi&C Gallery, in collaboration with Taipei 101 and the Korean Mission in Taipei, presents the “Korean Contemporary Art Exhibition” to foster cultural exchange between Taiwan and Korea. The exhibition brings together seminal figures from the history of Korean contemporary art alongside a new generation of artists who are rapidly gaining prominence on the international stage. Through sculpture and printmaking, these distinguished artists articulate their unique visual languages, collectively illuminating the vibrant and flourishing landscape of contemporary Korean art.
The exhibition opens with The Journey in Search of Happiness by contemporary sculptor Kim Kyung-min, curated by Yi&C Gallery as the exhibition’s leading presentation. Debuting in July, the show received enthusiastic acclaim. Kim Kyung-min is renowned for his keen observation of everyday life, capturing fleeting yet deeply moving moments—whether the first encounter between two people, the commute to work in the morning, or the joyful ride home with family on bicycles. His works convey an intimate and profound sense of happiness, resonating warmly with viewers.
From late August onward, the exhibition expands to include works by Park Seo-Bo, Kim Whanki, Song Hyung-ro, Yoon Byung-rak, Ha Tae-im, among others. Known as the “Father of Dansaekhwa,” Park Seo-Bo incorporates traditional Korean hanji paper onto canvas and repeatedly draws pencil lines across the surface, creating meditative compositions formed through the accumulation of countless strokes—an approach that establishes him as a pivotal figure in Korean contemporary art. Kim Whanki, who passed away over four decades ago, opened the door to abstraction in modern Korean painting through his pure sense of color and profound spatial depth. Song Hyung-ro masterfully integrates elements of nature, animals, and still life, producing images with striking three-dimensionality and extraordinary visual allure. Yoon Byung-rak, working on traditional Korean mulberry paper, magnifies realistic depictions of apples to achieve an astonishing sense of immediacy. In addition, the exhibition features several emerging artists who are making their mark on the international art scene.
By assembling representative figures across generations of Korean art history, the “Korean Contemporary Art Exhibition” bears witness to the diversity, vitality, and dynamic growth of contemporary Korean art. This compelling group exhibition will officially open at Gallery 101, Taipei, in late August.