Juree Kim, 'Evanescent Landscape - Hwigyeong: Philadelphia,' (2023). Image courtesy by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The Shape of Time: Korean Art after 1989 is the most extensive exhibition of Korean contemporary art ever held in North America, showcased at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibition was co-curated by Hyunsoo Woo, who began her curatorial journey in the U.S. in 1996 and was appointed deputy director at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2021. While the inception of this exhibition can be traced back to 2014, the unforeseen delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic only served to amplify anticipation within the American art community. Woo credits the surging interest in Korean art and culture, in part, to the global acclaim of Korean pop culture. This encompasses not only K-pop and the meteoric rise of groups like BTS and Blackpink but also internationally acclaimed films such as Parasite and Minari.
A noteworthy anecdote shared by Woo centers around an artwork installation by Juree Kim titled Evanescent Landscape – Hwigyeong: Philadelphia, where an American museum staff member, having observed that the artwork resembled the basement motifs from the movie Parasite and discerning its connection to the film, became deeply fascinated. Woo underscores that the overarching vision of the exhibition is to make Korean art accessible and relatable to a broader audience. Irrespective of one’s familiarity with Korean art, the intent is to foster a space where viewers can engage with and appreciate the artworks through their own cultural lenses. Additionally, the exhibition’s significance extends beyond just Korean culture, as it enjoys the support of well-regarded foundations such as the Andy Warhol Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, which is a commendable rarity in the U.S. art world, attesting to the broader, universal appeal of major showcases of contemporary Korean art. The persistent endeavors to elevate Korean culture, combined with the influence of popular culture, have contributed to a significant wave in the American art scene.
