To review the old to learn the new. That’s the philosophy behind Hakgojae Gallery. It’s a saying from the Analects of Confucius and the gallery embodies this spirit by connecting the past and the present. Hakgojae Gallery opened in Seoul in 1988. Since then, the gallery has been central to the Korean art market. It charts directions for Korean art in the contemporary global culture.
Hakgojae Gallery’s name reflects its mission. Learning from the past involves self-reflection, especially in Korea. The country has a tragic history of Japanese colonialism and division. Overcoming these struggles allows confident participation in global culture. This is the ideology that drives Hakgojae Gallery. It connects the old and new and the region to the world.
Hakgojae Gallery has presented over 200 exhibitions. These exhibitions focus on bridging the past and the new. The gallery considers which new trends will become the old of the future. This focus defines Hakgojae Gallery. It also highlights its role as a responsible cultural institution in the Korean, Asian, and global art market.
Early exhibitions set the foundation. Prestige art historians curated historical art exhibitions. “Paintings in the Late of Korean Empire” in 1988 was one. Another was “Calligraphy in the Middle of Joseon Dynasty” in 1990. “Landscape of Meeting and Parting” followed in 2000.
Hakgojae Gallery also showcases precursors. These artists reinterpret traditional Korean philosophy. They use the language of contemporary art. Nam June Paik’s solo exhibitions represent this. Paik is the founder of video art. Lee Ufan, an advocate for Dansaekhwa, also exhibited here. Chung Sang Hwa, a foremost artist of Dansaekhwa, has had solo shows too. Yun Suknam, a pioneering figure of Asian feminist art, has shown her works at Hakgojae Gallery multiple times. Ma Liuming, a performance artist, has also been featured. Jia Youfu and Tian Liming, leading artists of modern-day Chinese ink painting, have also exhibited here. These exhibitions reveal the artistic depth of masterpieces. They cement the gallery’s status as a leading exhibitor of historical and modern art in Korea and Asia.
Hakgojae Gallery is solidifying the roots of Korean modern and contemporary art. “Seeking “Eidos”: Korean Abstract Painters 7” in 2022 reilluminated the oeuvres of artists. These included Ree Bong Sang, Ryu Kyung Chai, and Kang Yong-un. Hakgojae Gallery aspires to create opportunities for research and illumination. It wants to highlight pioneers of Korean modern art through various exhibitions. The gallery’s patronage of Korean “Minjung art” is significant. Minjung art is Korean social realism art. The rise of the Korean economy in the ’70s and ’80s fueled a call for democratization. Minjung art sprang from the cultural uprising against the military dictatorship. Hakgojae Gallery was the first to exhibit prominent Minjung artists. These included Oh Yoon, Shin Hak-Chul, and Kang Yo-bae. Art history sheds new light on Minjung art. It recognizes it as a significant accomplishment.
The gallery shows discernment in its involvement with pioneers. These are artists at the forefront of contemporary art. They include Yun Suknam and Park Young Ha. Some have been invited to global biennales. Others have participated in exhibitions at leading art museums.
Hakgojae Gallery also introduces international artists to the Korean art market. “Minimalism as Landscape” featured American minimalists. These included Frank Stella and Donald Judd. The twentieth-anniversary exhibition was titled “Sensitive System.” It featured works of Lee Ufan and Roman Opalka. “Unconstraint Creation” in Hakgojae Shanghai featured Chung Sang Hwa and Ha Chong Hyun. Other notable exhibitions include Le Corbusier and Jean-Pierre Raynaud.
The gallery participates in international art fairs. These include Art Basel Hong Kong and Frieze Masters.
Hakgojae Gallery is an interchange station. The past and present intersect here. East and West communicate. Regions of the world interconnect. The gallery’s architecture reflects this. The main building is a traditional Korean Hanok renovated in 1995. The new annex was constructed in 2008. It boasts characteristics of the 21st century. Hakgojae Gallery enables us to envision the future. It mediates lessons from the past and pursuit of the present. The gallery believes in the incomprehensible side of art. It looks for artists who contribute insight and astonishment. Hakgojae Gallery shares moments of joy and sorrow with artists. These artists will shape the future.