Seoul, South Korea — The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is set to display works from this year's finalists for the Korea Artist Prize, which include unique and socially relevant pieces focusing on community history and identity.
As reported by Yonhap News Agency, one of the finalists, Gala Porras-Kim, presents a three-paneled painting titled "The Weight of a Patina of Time (2023)." Porras-Kim explores the changing meanings of cultural heritage and relics through her art. At a press conference, she explained the perspectives presented in her painting, which include a gravesite, a UNESCO site, and the natural occurrence of moss on the stone surface.
The other finalists are Kwon Byung-jun, Lee Kang-seung, and Jun So-jung. Jun's new work, "Syncope (2023)," is a 29-minute video exploring identity amid fast societal changes. Lee Kang-seung’s new piece, "Lazerus (2023)," addresses queer culture and heritage. Kwon Byung-jun showcases a theatrical performance by robots, emphasizing the devaluation of human labor.
This year’s Korea Artist Prize underwent some changes, including an increase in the financial reward to 50 million won (US$36,850) per artist and a revision in the final deliberation process to include open discussions between the artists and the jury.
The exhibition will run from Friday through March 31, and the winner will be announced in February.