Two major public museums from Korea and Japan are launching a groundbreaking exhibition that explores eight decades of artistic exchange between the neighboring nations. The exhibition, titled "Art between Korea and Japan since 1945," opens Saturday at the Yokohama Museum of Art in collaboration with the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization between the two countries.
The relationship between Korea and Japan has long been characterized by complexity – geographically close yet often politically strained. While political tensions have frequently dominated headlines, the cultural connections between the two nations have remained strong and mutually influential throughout history. This collaborative exhibition seeks to highlight these enduring artistic bonds.
"The joint exhibition offers a chance to revisit the historical moments the two countries have experienced, and to rediscover the significance and potential of contemporary art in Korea and Japan," said Kim Sung-hee, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. The ambitious show features more than 160 works by 50 artists and collectives, spanning multiple mediums including painting, sculpture, photography, and new media.
The exhibition is structured around key historical turning points that shaped both nations: Korea's liberation in 1945, Japan's defeat in World War II, and the crucial 1965 normalization of diplomatic ties. Through this historical framework, the show examines how artists from both countries responded to, reflected on, and ultimately transcended the shifting geopolitical contexts of their time.
Beyond historical narratives, the exhibition also focuses on personal artistic trajectories that bridged the two art worlds. Notable examples include the extensive exchanges between video art pioneer Paik Nam-june and Japanese artists both before and after 1965. The show also highlights the influential role of Lee U-fan, a Korean-born dansaekhwa artist who significantly impacted Japan's avant-garde movements and served as a crucial bridge between the two art scenes during the late 20th century.
"We are proud to open a new page in the history of Korea-Japan artistic relations through this collaborative exhibition," said Mika Kuraya, Director of the Yokohama Museum of Art. The exhibition represents a significant milestone in cultural diplomacy between the two nations, demonstrating how art can transcend political boundaries and foster mutual understanding.
Following its run in Yokohama, the exhibition will travel to Korea, where it will be displayed at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art's Gwacheon venue in Gyeonggi Province. The Korean presentation is scheduled to run from May 14 to September 27, 2026, giving audiences in both countries the opportunity to explore this comprehensive survey of artistic exchange and cultural dialogue.
