Studio Adrien Gardère

This retrospective dedicated to Kim Tschang-Yeul (1929–2021), one of the leading figures of contemporary Korean art, provides a comprehensive view of the artist’s creative approach. It reexamines his work within the historical and artistic context of modern and contemporary Korea.

The exhibition marks the first collaboration between the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA) and the Studio Adrien Gardère, as well as the museum’s first-ever collaboration with an international exhibition designer.

In close collaboration with the curatorial team, Studio Adrien Gardère oversaw the art direction and exhibition design, developing a concept that is both minimalist and sensitive, contributing fully to the creation of an immersive and contemplative space around the artworks.

The exhibition invites visitors to move beyond the aesthetic allure of the water drop motif to explore the memories of trauma and the quest for fundamental beauty that underpin Kim Tschang-Yeul’s work. Featuring lesser-known works from his New York period alongside rare archival documents, the exhibition offers a more nuanced reading of Kim’s artistic evolution. It also seeks to reveal the diversity of formal languages embedded in the water drop motif, encouraging a fresh perspective on his art.