Inaugural Exhibition of Jeonbuk Bank Art Museum: The Path of Su-geun in the Mountains of Awakening
The Jeonbuk Bank Art Museum opened its inaugural exhibition titled The Path of Su-geun in the Mountains of Awakening from February 4 to May 10.
"The landscapes we loved are the light of yesterday reflecting today" -
- Kim Mi-ryang, Curator at Jeonbuk Bank Art Museum -
Among the darkest and most chaotic periods in Korean history are the 36 years of Japanese colonial rule and the tragedy of the Korean War. Despite the harsh environment and the obscured future, citizens struggled to survive, and artists used their unique artistic 'light' to capture various modern landscapes.
What do the modern landscapes look like through the eyes of nine representative artists of Korean modern art? The exhibition is currently being held in Gunsan, Jeonbuk Province, a city symbolizing our modern era, where many buildings from the Japanese colonial period still remain.
The Jeonbuk Bank Art Museum opened its doors on February 4 with its inaugural exhibition The Path of Su-geun in the Mountains of Awakening – The Modern Landscapes We Loved. This exhibition, planned in collaboration with the Ghana Art Foundation, showcases 19 original works by nine artists, focusing on the sensations and memories left by Korean modern art through the theme of 'landscape' during turbulent times.
Participating artists include Kim Whanki, Park Soo-keun, Jang Uk-jin, O Ji-ho, Yoo Young-kuk, Do Sang-bong, Kwon Ok-yeon, Lee Dae-won, and Park Young-sun.
The Jeonbuk Bank Art Museum, a transformed space from the old bank branch in Naun-dong, is a multi-cultural space remodeled in connection with Gunsan's urban regeneration project. After the branch closed in 2021, Jeonbuk Bank decided not to sell the building but to transform it into a cultural space for citizens.
The second floor was remodeled as 'JB Cultural Space', offering various cultural programs like art academies and tea sommelier classes, establishing itself as a cultural hub in the region. Recognizing the public's desire for cultural and artistic engagement, Jeonbuk Bank designed the first floor as a professional art museum, preserving the bank's sturdy structure while emphasizing artistic sensibility.
Three Highlights of the Inaugural Exhibition:
The dignity and message of masters of Korean modern art.
O Ji-ho's works, 'Spring in the North' & 'Snowy Landscape', convey the memories left by Korean modern art through landscapes. Kim Whanki, in his essay collection, emphasized how the mountains symbolize the spirit of the Korean people, representing resilience even in times of war and poverty.
Park Soo-keun's 'Salt Seller' reflects the arduous lives of ordinary people during the Korean War, portraying the strength and sanctity of labor through the struggles of mothers responsible for family livelihoods.
On display alongside Park Soo-keun's work is Do Sang-bong's 'Gwangneung Arboretum', which seeks classical beauty, presenting nature in a refined and elegant manner.
Gunsan symbolizes modern landscapes with many preserved sites, including abandoned railways. The city embodies a vast modern landscape, where the lives of today’s citizens breathe within historical contexts.
Visitors can engage with the art through guided tours, which are held regularly from Tuesday to Saturday. Kim Mi-ryang, who oversees the tours, expressed pride in leading such a significant exhibition featuring original works from nine masters of modern art.
The Jeonbuk Bank Art Museum aims to become a cultural hub, with plans for future exhibitions reflecting the region's identity and historical background.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/jbgokr/224205076518
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