Korea’s Dansaekhwa artists eschewed the idea of art-about-art and commodity culture in favor of an abstract art imbued with traces of the struggle for liberation and cultural identity.
Korea
Posted inHistory
Blowback Explores the Messy History of US Interventionism
The well-researched podcast has done deep dives into US attempts at regime change in Iraq and Cuba, with its new season tackling the Korean War.
Posted inArt
A Chance to See the Best Korean Films From the Turn of the Century
Film at Lincoln Center’s screening series Relentless Invention: New Korean Cinema, 1996-2003 goes back to the roots of South Korea’s current wave of internationally acclaimed movies.
Posted inFilm
The Allure and Challenges of K-Pop’s Biggest Group
Bring the Soul follows the Korean boy band BTS on its recent world tour, showing the members’ incredible grind and perseverance.
Posted inMusic
Dive Into K-Pop With Five Essential Music Videos
Getting into the inexplicable sounds, powerhouse choreography, and high-concept narratives and visuals of K-pop can be intimidating. Here are some iconic music videos to help any newbie get started.
Posted inArt
An Artist’s Ephemeral Monuments
At first glance, Sue Yon Hwang’s paper statues look like misplaced monoliths: totemic, ritualistic, and ancient.
Posted inArt
Bridging the Diverse Foundations of 20th-Century Asian Art
This landmark exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary finds unexpected resonances among disparate Asian countries.
Posted inArt
Monochrome Sets You Free
I discovered the work of Ha Chonghyun in 2000 at an exhibition mounted at the Gwangju City Art Museum, curated by the art critic Yoon Jin Sup.
Posted inIn Brief
President and Founder of Gwangju Biennale Resigns over Censorship
Gwangju Biennale Foundation President Lee Yong-woo has resigned over the censorship of an artwork by the Korean government, the Korea Herald reported.
Posted inNews
A Giant Ear for Politicians
Step into a restaurant in Korea, and sometimes in Koreatowns, and you’ll find a simple button next to your table. Press the button, and the waiter or waitress shows up. It’s an elegant solution to a perennial problem: getting the attention of extremely busy people.