The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) is hosting a special exhibition to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War by looking at the memories of the war captured through artworks and contemplating the lessons learned from the war. The English title of the exhibition, “Unflattening,” derives from a novel by Nick Sousanis, and suggests that people should look ba...

A painting album by Jeong Seon (1676~1759), an artist hailed as the Joseon-period master of landscape paintings, will be put on auction for the first time next month. Designated as Treasure No. 1796, the painting album of Haeak palgyeong and Songyu palhyeondo comprises 16 paintings by Jeong Seon -- eight scenes of Mt. Kumgang (Haeak palgyeong) located in today‘s North Korea and eight paintings d...

The Lee Ungno Museum is home to 1,366 works by the artist. It hosts four main exhibitions including Artlab, an exhibition of a young artist who continues in the spirit of Lee. This year, Kim Deok-han -- who modernizes traditional lacquering work and applies it to his art -- was selected for Artlab. The museum also runs the “Lee Ungno Residency” program, which annually sends promising artists to ...

Gallery Hyundai, a major gallery in Korea, has unveiled the second part of the special exhibition that celebrates its 50th anniversary with a strong line-up of Korean experimental art. The second part of the exhibition which runs from June 12 to July 19 at the gallery in Jongno, central Seoul, features five artists of Korea’s experimental art -- Lee Seung-taek, Kwak Duck-jun, Park Hyun-ki, Lee K...

South Korea is one of the few countries where ordinary people do not encounter refugee issues in their ordinary lives. Many people easily neglect the issues of how refugees around the world are desperately struggling to secure their lives -- although Koreans were once refugees during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Independent photographer Harry Chun, who is now based in Korea, reminds us of ...

The masterpiece “Gwanghwamun Arirang” created by internationally acclaimed artist Kang Ik-joong to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War was unveiled on Monday at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The opening ceremony was attended by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo; Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun; Minis...

Dal-jae has a strong affection for Gwangju, where he grew up and spent his childhood with his grandfather. Although many painters hope their works go on display at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, he prefers to keep the masterpieces of his grandfather at home. "I want to have things that you can only see when you visit the place. It will help people in the region have p...

Seoul Auction, Korea’s first auction company, established in 1998, hosts art auctions trimonthly. It opened its Hong Kong branch in 2008, aiming to introduce modern and contemporary Korean art to world-class collectors. The upcoming auction will showcase 150 artworks worth around 12 billion won, and they can be viewed on an electronic catalog on its website. The auction will also include a real...

When Lee Yoon-seo, a 27-year-old tattooist who goes by the name May, traveled to the US last November, she was surprised to see tattooists from different countries showing interest in a tattooist from Korea. “It seems the ‘Korean tattoo,’ which is also called the ‘sentimental tattoo,’ has become a new genre globally,” she said. “They were really surprised to hear that tattoos are illegal in Kore...

French economist and futurologist Jacques Attali said “to act altruistically” is the only way to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, in an interview conducted as part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Insight Series” on the post-coronavirus era. “By protecting others, you can protect yourself. However, many people thought the opposite,” Attali said in an interview with Choi Jung-wha, profess...

By Park Yuna ( yunapark@heraldcorp.com )

The sculpture, however, has become a topic of discussion, as some argue it spoils the cityscape of central Seoul. The park is usually left empty to allow Seoulites to better enjoy the sights of Deoksugung, an iconic palace in Seoul. “Some people have a negative view on the installation work. We, however, have reached an agreement to set up ‘Rebirth’ after a thorough discussion. It can deliver a ...

“The film ‘Ashfall’ is a disaster movie, but what we are facing in real life feels like a movie than any other films,” Lee said at the acceptance speech. “It has been a long time since we have seen a film at a theater comfortably. I hope for the time when we used to enjoy watching films at a theater will come soon.” The award was exclusively broadcast live on MBN at 7 p.m. emceed by comedian Lee...

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has started taking international applications for the next year’s Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism (SBAU), aiming to select around 100 projects around the world. The biennale, which will be held from September to November 2021, will be held under the theme of “Crossroads, Building the Resilient City,” encompassing five co-related topics of urbanism, a...

Designed by architect Woo Kyu-seung, the museum building that reflects elements of nature, such as mountains, moon and clouds that Kim considered important, is worth a visit on its own. In fact, some 40 percent of the museum visitors come to see the architecture of Whanki Museum, according to the museum. Currently shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum will reopen June 6 with a new ex...