The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Gwacheon has unveiled a major reorganization of its permanent collection exhibitions, "Korean Modern and Contemporary Art I & II." The highlight of the refresh is a dedicated "Artist's Room" featuring 43 works by Park Su-geun, including 20 oil paintings and 23 drawings from the 1950s and 1960s. The update also introduces a spotlight on the prodigy Lee In-sung and expands the "Modernist Women Artists" section with newly acquired and rarely seen craft works.
This reorganization is significant as it integrates 69 pieces from the prestigious Lee Kun-hee Collection into the museum's long-term narrative. By rotating the "Artist's Room" focus from figures like Lee Jung-seob to Park Su-geun and Lee In-sung, the MMCA is providing a more nuanced look at postwar Korean society and hyperrealism. The inclusion of tapestry and craft by female artists further signals the institution's commitment to broadening the canon of Korean modernism beyond traditional painting.