The Entrance of the Ho-Am Art Museum, Where Kim Hwan-ki's Exhibition 'A Dot in the Sky' Is Being Held

The season of lush green and blue has arrived. As someone who sweats easily, summer is quite a challenging season for me. That's why I find myself looking for exhibition spaces where I can comfortably enjoy artworks with a pleasant air conditioner. With the liberation from the constraints of COVID-19, this summer marks the first eagerly awaited season, and numerous exhibitions by long-awaited artists are opening. Sharing the refreshing artworks inside the exhibition halls and the vibrant scenes outside, I want to provide some solace and announce the beginning of summer. Kim Hwan-ki, Edward Hopper, Tadao Ando. Now, I'll briefly share my impressions of exhibitions that you might want to visit, considering the uncertainty of when you can go again.

a dot a sky, Kim Hwanki

May 18 to September 10, 2023 (Hoam Museum)
Reservation available on the Hoam Museum website from 2 weeks before the visit.

Kim Hwan-ki's 'One Patch of Sky' / Kim Hwan-ki, 'Where Shall I Become Something to Meet Again' (1970)

눈이 부시게 뚜렷한 점과 블루의 색으로 마음을 적시는 40년의 여정, 호암미술관 재개관 기념으로 진행되는 김환기 회고전 ‘한 점 하늘, 김환기’ 입니다. 이번 전시에서는 호암미술관이 소장한 작품뿐 아니라 국내외 곳곳에 흩어져 있는 컬렉터가 소장한 작품을 모은 대규모 전시로 약 120여점을 선보입니다.

A dazzling 40-year journey filled with vivid points and the color blue that saturates the soul. It's the retrospective exhibition 'One Patch of Sky, Kim Hwan-ki,' commemorating the reopening of the Ho-Am Art Museum. In this exhibition, you will encounter not only works held by the Ho-Am Art Museum but also a large-scale display of approximately 120 pieces collected by collectors from around the world.

Personally, what left a lasting impression were the newspaper works, his used brushes, preserved photographs, and the artist's notebooks—materials that allowed a glimpse into the artist's life rather than his paintings. Within these, Kim Hwan-ki's passion and longing felt overwhelmingly intense, almost palpable.

The Kim Hwan-ki edition available at Print Bakery is produced using pigment printing technology that becomes more vivid over time. This technique employs high-quality pigments for enhanced preservation, making it suitable for long-term display. Each piece is meticulously crafted under the supervision of the artist or their family, and it comes with a unique numbering system, emphasizing the individuality and special value of these limited editions.

Edward Hopper, From City to Coast

April 20 to August 20, 2023 (Seoul Museum of Art, Seosomun Main Building)
Available on Interpark, Kakao, and 29cm

The Edward Hopper exhibition, which continues to captivate us as we follow the light, is being held successfully at the Seoul Museum of Art. It was a time where the melancholic and subtle colors of his works were vividly felt. Hopper drew inspiration from the tumultuous periods of the 1920s known as the Jazz Age and the post-World War II era when the United States experienced rapid economic growth. Psychologically, he depicted ambiguous and lonely emotions that were not clearly defined.

This exhibition divides its sections based on the regions that Hopper depicted in his paintings. The traces of his continuous efforts to accurately depict landscapes and subjects, along with the canvases lacking depth and unique compositions, were noticeable. As we immersed ourselves in his damp gaze, it was a gallery that we couldn't easily leave.

Tadao Ando, Youth

2023.4.1-7.30 (Museum San)
Reservations available on Naver / On-site ticketing

Ando Tadao's architecture begins under the motto "Creates architecture that can only exist in that place." Museum San, too, exists as a single work where architecture becomes the terrain and the terrain becomes architecture. Ando Tadao, who considers 'youth' as a time that people with dreams can enjoy indefinitely and as the driving force to live life, is presenting a retrospective exhibition on the theme of 'Youth' in various countries. You can see his challenges and beliefs in architecture, as well as the artist's determination in facing life.

This exhibition, organized under the section titles 'The Form of Space,' 'Creation of Landscape,' 'Challenges in the City,' and 'Dialogue with History,' showcases not only the well-known exposed concrete technique but also Ando Tadao's continuous exploration of new materials and forms.

The exterior appearance of Tadao Ando's buildings is undoubtedly beautiful, but what left a lasting impression was the anticipated play of light and shadow, as well as the scent of the air encountered inside. It seems as if he has captured the vitality of nature vividly in his own architecture. Considering how architecture can contribute to society, Ando Tadao nurtures the energy required to build structures while working towards projects that ensure the future generations will not lose their lives. Perhaps, the places touched by his hands will continue to stand alongside nature for decades, reflecting the era's essence.