Korean Contemporary Art
Miki Wick Kim
Prestel
Published to highlight the dynamism and complexity of the contemporary art scene in Korea, this text offers a basic introduction to the work of 30 of the country鈥檚 most talented and prolific artists and their works.
Beginning with a brief introduction and a succinct essay from Shinyoung Chung discussing 鈥淩ecent Movements in Korean Contemporary Art鈥, the author offers a sound basis for the growing curatorial and editorial interest. There鈥檚 definitely something missing though. Does 鈥渃ontemporary鈥 refer to Korean art of the last 20 or 25 years 鈥 what鈥檚 the time span? There鈥檚 mention that the contemporary art scene gained international recognition after the 1988 Olympic Games; does this indicate that we are measuring the development through strictly Western eyes? These are pertinent questions, which could have been explored through a broader range of materials. However, the rich selection of works and artists profiled certainly indicates that Korea is a fertile ground for cultural exchange and offers a brief, if not slightly Wikipedia-style, insight into the world of contemporary Korean art.
Florence Wright