The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) in Seoul is screening a documentary film about renowned Korean artist Kim Tschang-yeul, famous for his distinctive water drop paintings. The 79-minute cinematic essay titled "The Man Who Paints Water Drops" began showing on Friday and will run through November 1st at the museum's Film & Video space.
The documentary screening coincides with the museum's major retrospective exhibition of Kim Tschang-yeul's work, which opened in August and continues through December 21st. This marks the first comprehensive retrospective of the artist since his death in 2021 at age 91. The exhibition explores Kim's complete artistic journey and reveals previously unknown aspects of his creative practices from the post-Korean War period through his time in New York.
Released in 2021 as the first documentary about Kim Tschang-yeul, the film delves deeply into the late artist's solitude and examines the reasons behind his obsession with painting water drops. The documentary explores how Kim's traumatic experiences during Korea's post-colonial liberation period and the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 shaped his artistic vision. During the war, Kim narrowly escaped death when a bullet passed directly under his ear, an experience that profoundly influenced his later work.
The film was directed by Oan Kim, the artist's second son, working in collaboration with French artist and documentary filmmaker Brigitte Bouillot. Based entirely on Kim Tschang-yeul's personal narrative and memories, the documentary provides an intimate portrait of the artist's inner world and creative process. The film has received international recognition, winning the Silver Horn Award at the Krakow Film Festival and the Emerging Director Award at the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in 2021.
Visitors interested in watching the documentary are encouraged to make reservations through the museum's official website. The MMCA Film & Video theater can accommodate 120 people total, with 90 seats available by advance reservation and an additional 30 seats available for walk-in visitors. The museum is offering 12 different screening time slots throughout the day to accommodate visitor demand during the film's run through November 1st.
