Gallery Hyundai proudly presents 55 YEARS: A Legacy of Modern & Contemporary Korean Art to commemorate its 55th anniversary. On the morning of April 4th, at 10 am, Gallery Hyundai (or Hyundai Hwarang as it was then known) took the very first steps of its journey in Insadong. Since then, the gallery has dedicated itself to showcasing the work of full-time artists, allowing them to focus solely on their creative pursuits while introducing their artistic oeuvres to the public, local and international collectors, corporate patrons, and major institutions worldwide. This year marks the gallery’s 55th year of commitment to this mission. The exhibition reflects on the 55 years of Gallery Hyundai's journey as a foundation in the history of Korean art, celebrating the key artists who have become cornerstones of this narrative. Through this exhibition, the gallery invites visitors to explore the past, present, and future of Gallery Hyundai and Korean modern and contemporary art.

55 YEARS: A Legacy of Modern & Contemporary Korean Art is divided into two parts, presented at both Hyundai Hwarang (8 Samcheong-ro) and Gallery Hyundai (14 Samcheong-ro). Hyundai Hwarang highlights works by artists who have achieved iconic status in the public consciousness, such as Park Soo-Keun, Lee Jung Seob, and Chun Kyungja. It also features figurative painters who emerged from naturalism and devoted their lives to discovering a uniquely Korean identity. During the 1970s, when Oriental painting dominated the art scene, President Park Myung-ja highlighted Western painting through exhibitions and brought contemporary art to the public and collectors through “Hwarangji,” which was the first art magazine published by a commercial gallery in Korea. This process established a significant chapter in the history of Korean modern and contemporary art, introducing artists deeply cherished by the people.

The artistic dialogue between Korean Experimental artists and diaspora artists resonates with a shared pursuit of distinctive aesthetic languages. Yet, like individual constellations, they each build their own independent worlds, representing a vital legacy of Korean modern and contemporary art.