The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Gwacheon, South Korea, opened "Road movie: Art between Korea and Japan since 1945" on May 14, 2026. This exhibition is a touring version of the collaborative show "Always by Your Side: 80 Years of Art between Japan and Korea," which was held at the Yokohama Museum of Art from December 6, 2025, to March 22, 2026. Marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea in 1965, the exhibition traces eight decades of artistic exchange from 1945 to the present. It features around 200 works by 43 artists, including Cho Yang-gyu, Kwak In-sik, Nam Hwa-yeon, Nam June Paik, Lee Ufan, Lee Bul, Takashi Murakami, and others, organized into five sections. The show also incorporates six outdoor sculptures installed at the museum's opening in 1986 and 1987, highlighting how the institution itself fostered cross-border artistic dialogue.
This exhibition matters because it provides a comprehensive, historically grounded examination of the complex and often overlooked artistic exchanges between Korea and Japan, set against the backdrop of post-war division, Cold War tensions, and eventual diplomatic normalization. By spotlighting not only official exhibitions but also personal networks, private correspondence, and solidarity movements, the show offers a nuanced perspective on how artists from both countries have influenced and inspired each other across borders. At a time when geopolitical relations remain sensitive, the exhibition serves as a vital platform for reimagining shared cultural futures and deepening mutual understanding through art.