Image courtesy of Mina Cheon Studio The global art activist Mina Cheon draws inspiration from the partition of the Korean peninsula, in which she enlists a range of mediums including painting, sculpture, video, installation, and performance to deconstruct and reconcile the precarious history and ongoing coexistence between North and South Korea. Her solo exhibition at The Korea Society showcases her most recent painting series of Unification Flags. Mina Cheon will… Read More

Illustrator Wooh Na Young, also known by her pen name "Obsidian," has caught the eyes of people around the world with her distinctive style of reinterpreting Western characters in hanbok, Korean traditional clothing. Combining her training in both traditional style of Asian painting and game design, her illustrations have become a viral sensation and a unique way of promoting the beauty of hanbok. Meet the illustrator who has captivated the… Read More

Statues, paintings, and masks—like the bodies of shamans and spirit mediums—give material form and presence to otherwise invisible entities, and sometimes these objects are understood to be enlivened. Dr. Laurel Kendall explores how magical images are expected to work with the shamans and spirit mediums in contemporary South Korea and compares the use of these shamanic images with similar practices in Vietnam, Myanmar, and Bali. The question of empowered images… Read More

Soonchoel Byun's solo exhibition at the Korea Society Gallery, his first one in New York in two decades, showcases nine photographs from his 2015 series Eternal Family which records and digitally creates a reunion between family members separated by the Korean War. Created with utmost sensitivity and respect for the personal and historical tragedy, Byun’s art is a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of the war that still remains… Read More

Korean Art From 1953: Collision, Innovation, Interaction is a richly illustrated book containing fourteen essays written by leading Korean art historians and scholars, topics range from the 1950s avant-garde to the feminist scene in the 1970s, the birth of the Gwangju Biennale in the 1990s and the lesser known North Korean art scene, and many Korean-born artists who have emerged to secure a place in the international art world. Yeon… Read More

Photo credit: Ruth Hogben for ABT Trefoil or “three-leaved plant” is a stylized form found in artifacts and architecture across culture and time. Dr. Minjee Kim begins the story with her first encounter with a gold headdress ornament of the Balhae kingdom (698-926) and traces the migration of its trefoil form throughout the 4th-6th century across Asia. Then, she travels to France, where “fleur-de-lis” adorned French crowns, clothing, textiles, and… Read More

Image Credit: Instagram @drawings_for_my_grandchildren In this interview series, we take a dive into contemporary culture in South Korea. Grandpa Chan and Grandma Marina are influencers on Instagram, perhaps unlike anyone else you see on that platform, maybe just because of their age. Their Instagram account Drawings for My Grandchildren started in 2015, for which Grandpa Chan draws and Grandma Marina writes stories of their lives for their grandchildren. After 1100… Read More

Internationally acclaimed artist Ik-Joong Kang in conversation about his art and career with Dr. Katherine Anne Paul, Curator of Asian Art, the Birmingham Museum of Art.Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), this program will be conducted virtually. This live session will be provided free of charge at the specified date and time. A limited number of viewing links will be provided to the people who sign up through the form… Read More

Three young artists - in New York, Berlin, and Seoul - record their situation and response to the pandemic, shelter-in-residence, and the changing landscape of the city each one lives in. Featuring Woo Ram Jung, Grace Noh, and kate-hers RHEE, the artists compare and contrast their experiences and ask themselves a question: what is the role of the creative community during a world-wide pandemic? This video was produced in collaboration… Read More

FREE with RSVP In conjunction with the current exhibition of Seunggu Kim’s photography series Better Days, the Korea Society is pleased to present a panel of selected photographers and curators for a discussion on contemporary photography in Korea. Contemporary Photography in Korea: Reception & Panel Discussion Thursday, November 14, 2019 | 6 PM @ The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, NYC Gallery hours: 10 AM - 4:30 PM… Read More