The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (NMCA) has opened an exhibition titled 'Surrealism and Korean Modern Arts' at its Deoksugung Palace branch in Seoul, running from April 17 to July 6. The show features six overlooked Korean surrealist artists—Kim Chongnam (Hideo Manabe), Kim Ukkyu, Kim Chongha, Park Gwangho, Kim Younghwan, and Shin Youngheon—displaying some 230 works by 50 surrealist artists. These painters explored surrealism despite the movement's limited adoption in Korea due to colonialism, war, and national division, expressing inner landscapes through unique contemplative styles.
This exhibition matters because it brings long-neglected Korean surrealist artists to light, correcting a historical gap in the narrative of modern Korean art. The artists' works reflect personal and national trauma—identity confusion, war, division, and repression—offering a deeper understanding of how surrealism manifested outside its European origins. By highlighting these six figures, the NMCA underscores the resilience of artistic expression under oppressive historical conditions and enriches the global discourse on surrealism's cross-cultural impact.