The Space Between: The Modern in Korean Art

LACMA

About the Exhibition

The Space Between: The Modern in Korean Art explored the progression of Korean modern art due to, and in spite of, foreign influence. Curated by Dr. Virginia Moon, associate curator of Korean Art at LACMA, the exhibition traced the arc of modernization in early 20th-century Korea from times of war to the beginning of the contemporary era. The second of three major Korean art exhibitions of Hyundai Motor’s Korean Art Scholarship initiative, The Space Between was a revolutionary presentation of Korean art, and the first of its kind in the West.


The approximately 130 works ranged from 1897 to 1965, covering three distinct historical periods in which the Korean Empire (1897–1910) was subject to military occupation first by the Japanese (1910–45) and later the Americans during the Korean War (1950–53). The exhibition included oils, ink, photography, and sculpture across five thematic sections: Modern Encounter, Modern Response, Modern Momentum, The Pageantry of Sinyeoseong, and Evolving into the Contemporary.

About the Program

The Hyundai Project: Korean Art Scholarship Initiative

The Korean Art Scholarship Initiative delivers three ground-breaking exhibitions that examine key aspects of Korean art, taking place at LACMA in 2018, 2022, and 2024. Including calligraphy and Korean modern and contemporary art, this program is designed to expand the understanding of Korean art history and reach broader audiences. The Hyundai Project: Korean Art Scholarship Initiative creates a new platform and model for research in key aspects of Korean art that have never before been explored on this scale in either exhibitions or publications outside Korea.

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