Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| Russian Ambassador to Korea Andrey Kulik delivers a congratulatory speech during the opening ceremony for the 'Kandinsky, Malevich & Russian Avant-Garde' exhibition at Sejong Museum of Art at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Russian avant-garde art may not be so well-known in Korea, but it holds a great significance in the development of modern art.
"Kandinsky, Malevich & Russian Avant-Garde," an exhibition co-hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo, sheds light on the crucial movement of Russian art, featuring works by notable Russian artists.
"The diplomatic history between Russia and Korea is only 31 years, which is a relatively short period. However, the two countries have built strong bilateral relations in such a short time," Russian Ambassador to Korea Andrey Kulik said during the opening of the exhibition at Sejong Museum of Art at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Wednesday.
The exhibit features a wide range of Russian artists, from pioneers of abstraction Wassily Kandinsky and Kazimir Malevich to Natalia Goncharova and Alexander Rodchenko, whose works expand to photography and design.
Ambassador Kulik noted cultural exchange as one of the most successful fields of exchange between Russia and Korea.
"Cultural exchange includes diverse areas including opera, ballet and art as well as exchanges between universities nurturing artists and musicians," Kulik said. "I think the reason behind vigorous cultural interchanges between Russia and Korea is that Russians and Koreans are interested in each other and are willing to know more about each other."
 |
| Guests to the opening of the 'Kandinsky, Malevich & Russian Avant-Garde' exhibition take a look at art on display in Sejong Museum of Art at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki |
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia and Korea held a series of events as part of the Korea-Russia Year of Mutual Exchanges from 2020 to 2021, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2020.
"These cultural exchanges pass into the history of the two countries and strengthen people-to-people ties," the ambassador said, adding that there will be more interesting Russia-Korea projects this year.
"I express my gratitude for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other governmental and private organizations which carry out cultural exchanges between Russia and Korea. I also thank both the Russian and the Korean sides for organizing this exhibition despite the difficult situation."
Russian avant-garde art flourished at the end of the Russian empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but made way for Socialist Realism as the Soviet Union was founded in 1922. Russian avant-garde art is now being rediscovered as a way to expand the scope of art history as it influenced the development of modern art.
Among the artists, Kandinsky and Malevich both explored geometric shapes, but differ in style. Kandinsky used an abstract, geometric style to portray universal feelings and ideas, while Malevich was more interested in the relationships between colors and geometric forms and invented Suprematism, an art movement centering on the fundamentals of geometry.
Kandinsky is better known as he later moved to Germany and Paris and was incorporated into Western art history. However, Malevich remained in Russia, and therefore is lesser-known globally.
Highlights of the exhibit include "Improvisation" (1913) by Kandinsky and "Suprematism" (1915) by Malevich, as well as Goncharova's Rayonism works taking inspirations from folk art and Rodchenko's graphic design which brought art closer to daily life.
After touring the exhibition, the ambassador said the exhibit presents the essence of the Russian avant-garde movement very well, emphasizing its significance.
"These artworks show how Russian avant-garde shaped not only Russian art, but also influenced art around the world," he said. "The exhibition also plays a key role in promoting cultural exchanges between Russia and Korea. I hope many Koreans come to see Russian avant-garde art."
The exhibit runs until April 17.
