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◇ The exhibition looks at the works of contemporary Korean art whose original sensitivity and aesthetics that emphasize the empathy with nature.
- It focuses on the theme of the two different kinds of nature: resonance and harmony.
◇ The exhibition features around 140 works by approximately 60 artists, mostly selected from the
Museum collection.
- It will be held at MMCA, Seoul from May 17 to September 28.
Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul is pleased to present its second collection special exhibition entitled “Korean Beauty: Two Kinds of Nature” from May 17th to September 28th. It showcases contemporary Korean artworks in various mediums including painting, traditional-style painting and sculpture chosen from the museum collection. The selection consists of the works that reflect the original sensitivity and aesthetic of Korean art that lay emphasis on the empathy with
“nature” as representing all beings in the world.
Korean Beauty: Two Kinds of Nature observes the inimitable perspectives and aesthetic senses of contemporary Korean artists. It intends to redefine the concept of Korean beauty, which has been confined only to the artifacts under the category of traditional Korean art (such as Buddhist statues, stupas, ceramics and Hanok ), by casting light on the distinctive characteristics and creative aesthetic consciousness peculiar only to contemporary Korean art.
The subtitle “Two Kinds of Nature” came from the question of how Korean artists’ ideas and philosophies are embodied in their works. The exhibition aims, therefore, to open the gate of “another nature” that is created by the artists’ attitudes towards and empathies for “nature”.
Korean Beauty: Two Kinds of Nature is divided into two parts under the main theme of “nature”:
“Resonance” and “Harmony”.
Gallery 1: “Nature One: Resonance” features works that focuses on the properties of “nature” as essence and origin. While conveying suggestiveness and metaphor, emptiness, and lingering impression and resonance, the works shown here demonstrate the original “spiritual” aesthetic senses realized in contemporary Korean art.
Gallery 2: “Nature Two: Harmony” introduces works that are imbued with Korean sentiments with the key words of natural landscapes, the communication among today’s people, and the rapport with animals. Here one can experience various sentiments expressed in Korean art: observation of Korea’s nature; the affectionate eyes towards today’s people in their everyday life; the humor seen the depiction of such traditional subjects as horses and cattle.
For more detailed information, please visit our website ( http://www.mmca.go.kr/eng ).
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
313 Gwangmyeong-ro Gwacheon-si Gyeonggi-do 427-701 South Korea

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【 Appendix 】 Artworks
Gallery 1: Nature One: Resonance
Song Hyunsook, 2 Strokes ,
1997, 160x240, Tempera on canvas
Lee U-Fan, Correspondance , 1994, 259x194.5x(4), Stornpigment on canvas
Kim Joohyun, The Extended Mode - The One ,
2005, 230x150x13, Wood
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
313 Gwangmyeong-ro Gwacheon-si Gyeonggi-do 427-701 South Korea

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Gallery 2: Nature Two: Harmony
Kim Kwangsoo, My Clouds ,
2003, 127×178, Gelatin silver print
Han Chungshik, Silence 2-Chungbuk Danyang ,
1998, 108×108, Gelatin silver print
Choi Hochul, Euljiro circular railway , 2000, 87×216, Mixed media on paper
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
313 Gwangmyeong-ro Gwacheon-si Gyeonggi-do 427-701 South Korea

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Kim Sangwoo, Generation , 2003, 190×70×(10), Oil on canvas
Kim Sooik, Maternal Affection ,
1992, 80×100, Oil on canvas
Sa Sukwon, A mandarin fish in the blue net , 1992, 180×229.5×(2), India ink and color on korean paper
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea
313 Gwangmyeong-ro Gwacheon-si Gyeonggi-do 427-701 South Korea