Kim, Y: Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea

This book deals with issues of tradition, modernity, and identity in modern and contemporary art in Korea. Having been frequently debated in newspapers and magazine articles, these issues are keys to understanding the contemporary trends of the fine art world in Korea. As East Asian art has recently been introduced more frequently on the world stage, an increasing number of talented Korean artists are invited to large-scale international exhibitions and are receiving favorable evaluations in art galleries abroad. However, writings in English that treat these artists within the Korean context have been rare in number. Thus, this book has been written to cope with the urgent need for a work introducing Korean art not only for art lovers or specialists, but for those with a general interest as well. Major aspects of the book include Korea's modernism during the Japanese colonial period, the spread of modernism after the Korean War and art informel, the monochrome art movement, the so-called minjung (people's) art, revival of ink paintings, and Korean artists overseas as well as art in North Korea.