The Art Institute of Chicago is unequivocally embracing the depth and richness of Korean culture with the grand reveal of its first gallery dedicated exclusively to Korean art. The institute's decided timing to highlight Korea's artistic legacy couldn't have been devised any better, as Seoul transforms into a buzzing global hub for contemporary art and Korean culture captivates the West's fascination through TV shows, music, and beyond. Yeonsoo Chee, who's taken the reins to nurture this space, remarked to the Chicago Sun-Times, "I hope that people will actually come and see not just the contemporary, glitzy K-pop culture, but before that, (understand that) there is such a beautiful long history of Korean art and culture that they can discover."
With a collection spanning over 2,000 years, the museum's new resident curator since 2020, Chee, has masterfully leveraged the modest space to showcase a rotation of 60 objects from the art collection which encompasses around 300 ceramics, textiles, and paintings. The works range from Korea's Three Kingdoms Period to the incandescent modern day. The gallery quite literally sets the stage to quickly engage viewers through six themes, reflecting Korea's political, religious, and material cultures. The Korea Times provided insight into the gallery's various sections, which include an 18th-century Buddha statue now on public display for the first time since its procurement, and a dual focus on Celadon pottery and tea culture from the Goryeo Kingdom.
Additionally, the exhibit makes a compelling case for the value of tactile interaction with history. Chun Kwang Young's "Aggregation 21-JUO73" serves as a tactile testament to the power of laborious love, comprised of spiked mulberry bark paper triangles inscribed with Korean characters. Chee explained to the Chicago Sun-Times that this piece connects Korea's past to its present, employing a fleeting art form from yesteryear to tap into modern consciousness.
What's particularly notable is the inclusion of regal Silla-era artifacts, currently on loan from the National Museum of Korea. These treasures have the distinct prestige of bearing the weight of their royal history and are gracing the United States until February of the following year. The lending of those artifacts preludes the much-anticipated touring exhibition featuring selections from the 23,000-piece collection bequeathed by the Samsung Group's late Chairman Lee Kun-hee, a series where the Art Institute is set to be a principal host. As reported by the Korea Times, approximately 200 pieces are slated to debut internationally at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art before moving to Chicago and finally the British Museum.
The gallery is more than a collection of artifacts; it's a journey through geopolitics, spirituality, and the very fabric of Korean society. Art Institute of Chicago's new space is offering patrons the opportunity to delve beyond the surface of popular culture and immerse themselves in the nuanced narrative of a historical Korea that resonates through time – and they're clearly ready to make this expansive collection come alive for all who venture through its doors.
