국립현대미술관

The MMCA Collection: Korean Modern and Contemporary Art I, presents 145 works from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea’s collection, which were created in the first half of the 20th century. This period encompasses the Korean Empire, the Enlightenment period, Japanese colonial rule, liberation, and the Korean War.

From the late 19th century, Joseon’s intellectual community developed a growing interest in Western civilization, particularly science and technology. This shift was influenced by exchanges with both Japan and the Qing Dynasty. Inspired by Japan’s “leaving Asia, entering Europe” and the Qing Dynasty’s “Chinese learning as substance, Western learning for application” movements, the idea of “Eastern morals, Western technology” spread among the reformist intellectuals of Joseon’s Gaehwapa (Enlightenment School), advocating or the integration of Eastern values with Western advancements. At the same time, concerns arose over the threat that foreign influence posed to the nation’s culture and traditions. The introduction of photography and Western perspective techniques caused a visual shock in realistic representation. Meanwhile, as calligraphy and art education—which were traditionally off-limits to women—became accessible, more women began aspiring to become artists. The closure of the Dohwaseo, the Royal Bureau of Painting and a pivotal art education institution, highlighted the necessity for new art institutions and educational resources for painting and calligraphy. Although some artists returned from studying abroad with knowledge of new “art,” they often encountered a lack of understanding from those around them.

Part 1, “ The Emergence of a New Perspective: Optics, Cameras, Modern Knowledge Systems, and Art” and Part 2, “The Exploration of Modern Calligraphy and Painting,” examine the efforts of modern painters and calligraphers to preserve traditional forms amidst societal change. Part 3, “ Emergence of the Concepts of Art and Artist,” explores early Western-style paintings in Korea—still lifes, landscapes, and portraits—created by artists curious about and experimenting with Western techniques. Part 4 introduces Lee Inseong’s watercolors, oil paintings, and drawings. Part 5, “Drawing Life in Joseon,” features works from the 1930s and 1940s that gained recognition at the Joseon Art Exhibition, highlighting depictions of contemporary life and people. Part 6 focuses on the artistic practices of Park Rehyun and Kim Kichang, a married couple who were both accomplished artists in their own right. Part 7 traces the development of [semi]abstract tendencies and formative experimentation during and after the Korean War. Part 8 presents paintings and sculptures centered on the theme of family. The final section—Part 9—showcases a selection of Park Sookeun’s works, including drawings and oil paintings.

MMCA Collection: Korean Modern and Contemporary Art I explores how artists wrestled with the changes and challenges of their times, and how their questions and the answers they found through their art still resonate today. The exhibition also examines the role art plays as a source of strength during times of hardship.

MMCA Gwacheon Korean Modern and Contemporary Art I opened on May 1, 2025.

Beginning April 22, 2026, the galleries previously introduced as the “Artist’s Room” for Oh Jiho and Lee Jungseop were newly reorganized as the rooms of Lee Insung and Park Sookeun.