Contemporary Korean art is a fascinating scene making waves on a global scale. Gaining recognition for its unique blend of traditional techniques and modern perspectives, contemporary Korean art is filled with provocative installations and colorful abstract paintings - but there’s also the second, repressed side of North Korean artists. Let’s take a closer look at both.

An overlook of contemporary Korean art
With origins in the 1960s and 1970s, contemporary Korean art is a dynamic and diverse field, reflecting the country’s social, political, and cultural landscape. Introspective paintings and bold artistic installations dominate the contemporary Korean art landscape, as artists break boundaries and challenge conventions, exploring new frontiers of artistic expression.

The main themes of contemporary Korean art include the modern identity crisis, inequality, sustainability, globalization, and reflection on the complex and evolving realities of Korean society and its place in the world.

The unknown art of North Korea
Repressed by the propagandist regime, contemporary art of North Korea is virtually unknown to the rest of the world. Still, some artworks manage to slip through the barrier that separates North Korea from other countries, and we get a glimpse of what modern North Korean art is like.

Most contemporary art from North Korea shows little to no experimentation, with artists striving towards technical mastery rather than using art for expression and playing with the context. Some of the North Korean artists whose works we were able to look at include Cha Yong Ho, Kim Mun Gyu, Jin Sok, Jo Won Il, and Kim Hong Hu.

The Kaesong art collection was created to showcase some of the hidden treasures of contemporary Korean art - including works by internationally acclaimed Korean artists such as Jong Chang Mo, Son U Yong, Rim Ryul, Tak Hyo Yeon, Kim Sung Hui, and Kim Song Min. This art carries both a message and appeal to the viewers in aesthetical way.