Leading S. Korean artist's exhibition inaugurated at NGMA

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) have joined hands to stage an exhibition here by a leading artist from South Korea.

Titled "Hiding Inside the Light", the exhibition that features 83 works by noted South Korean artist Kim Ho-suk, was inaugurated by South Korean envoy to India Cho Hyun on Sunday at the NGMA here.

Kim Kum-pyoung, Director of KCCI, and Director General of NGMA Adwaita Gadanayak also attended the high-profile event.

Cho expressed his gratitude to Kim Ho-suk for displaying his masterpieces for the benefit of art lovers and general public in India.

The ambassador said Kim's artwork brings about in subtle and profound manner the trials and tribulations of Korean people as the country passed through difficult times during the Japanese colonial rule.

He said spirituality and simple living in harmony with nature is the recurrent theme in his art works that are an inspiration for budding Korean artists.

Kim said he was honoured to hold an exhibition in India, the country that is "the origin of religion, spirituality, the Ganges river, spices, harmony of variance, kindness, greatness, mystery and curry".

He said the current society where he is living is the root and fountain of his art.

"India and Korea are two old civilisations that share cultural and historical similarities. Both the countries have a strong tradition of arts and literature that has contributed immensely to create a positive image of the country," said NGMA Director General Gadanayak.

"Both the countries have taken significant steps to establish cultural centres in India and Korea to promote art, language and facilitate the exchange of experts," Gadanayak said.

"Hiding Inside the Light" is a solo exhibition that features works of art encompassing the last four decades of Kim's practice.

The artist has presented a total of 83 works of art from the late 1970s to the present. The exhibition attempts to portray the artist's journey of exploration of Korea.

It presents key works from his series of portraits, landscapes, animal figures and scenes from daily life which are almost like research that provides an intimate understanding of the social, cultural and political aspects of Korean life.

--IANS

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