Fluid Continuity: Rethinking Korean Art in the Contemporary Age

Fluid Continuity highlights the narrative of pre-modern to present-day Korean art by interrelating six prominent traditional art practices and mediums: celadon ceramics of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), buncheong ceramics and white porcelains of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), and works created using Korean paper, silk, and wood. The aim of the exhibition is to reenvision Korean art history since the turn of the 20^th century (which is often addressed in a linear fashion with a series of divided timeframes) as a continuous multifaceted story comprised of rich cultural heritages and influences and their modern interpretations.

In the Wan Koo & Young Ja Huh Gallery presents a comprehensive exploration of Korean ceramics created in various forms by traditional craftsmen and modern ceramists. Beginning as utilitarian vessels, Korean ceramics evolved over time from the ethereal blue-green glaze of Goryeo-dynasty celadon to the distinctive character of buncheong ware and the refined elegance of white porcelain of the Joseon dynasty. Contemporary artists continue to engage with these materials as mediums for their own artistic investigations. The continuous use of clay in Korea reflects its versatility and endless possibilities for artistic expression.

The Korean paper, silk, and wood sections of the exhibition in the Jin Joo Gallery feature a diverse constellation of objects such as Joseon-dynasty folding screens, costumes, and furniture, as well as contemporary paintings, calligraphy, and multimedia works. Each section presents the artistic and cultural use of a given material, ranging from its production, distribution, craft art, and use during the late Joseon dynasty to its aesthetic adaptation and transformation in the contemporary age. As the late 19th-early 20th century marked a significant transition between tradition and modernization in Korea, the earlier objects offer a rigorous survey of historical and cultural context, whereas the contemporary works provide insight into each artist’s individual practice and philosophy inspired by both Korean and modern cultures.

Fluid Continuity reinterprets Korean art with fresh perspective, creating an aesthetic and conceptual dialogue between premodern and contemporary art within the continuous lineage of materials and culture. The exhibition was co-curated by Soojin Jeong, 2023-2025 Post-Graduate Curatorial Fellow in East Asian Art and Suhyun Hwang, 2024-2025 JSMA/Korea Foundation Global Challengers Museum Intern.

Selected Artworks from the Exhibition