The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Gwacheon, South Korea, has opened a major exhibition titled “Art between Korea and Japan since 1945,” co-organized with the Yokohama Museum of Art. Running from May 14 to September 27, 2026, the show marks the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic ties between the two countries. Featuring some 200 works by 43 artists, including Zainichi artists and video art pioneer Nam June Paik, the exhibition traces eight decades of artistic exchange shaped by colonialism, war, division, and ongoing tensions. It previously opened in Yokohama, drawing over 37,000 visitors—significantly surpassing typical attendance—with strong interest from younger audiences.
The exhibition matters because it offers a nuanced, human-centered perspective on a historically fraught bilateral relationship often described as “close, yet distant neighbors.” By highlighting how individual artists bridged political divides through creativity, the show aims to engage younger generations who may be more familiar with pop culture than fine art or history. The strong visitor turnout in Yokohama and the inclusion of rarely seen archival materials underscore the growing appetite for cross-cultural dialogue and reconciliation through art, particularly in a region still grappling with colonial legacies and national divisions.