Brooklyn Seoul

About

While many Americans are familiar with K-Pop, may own an appliance or piece of electronics made in Korea, or drive a Korean car, the nuances of an arts culture thousands of years old remains a mystery to them. Brooklyn Seoul, an international juried art exhibition presented by the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition at the BWAC gallery from Saturday, November 13 through Sunday, December 12, 2021, looks to alter perception and encourage awareness of Korean and Korean-American art and culture of the 21st century.
As with any civilization, culture changes through the centuries, especially when foreign powers occupy the land and impose their own cultural norms. Such was the case for Korea, often termed a "war-torn" country for its history of being invaded and occupied. Yet despite centuries of adversity, certain style characteristics remain that identify its arts culture as unique.
Korean art has traditionally been influenced by Confucianism and Buddhism, as well as Western art cultures. There is a long history in Korea of papermaking and folding, ceramics and fabric design, as well as painting, that drew on these influences. Still, Korean artists developed and continue to develop their own style.
Some common elements throughout Korean art history are still present in the modern art of today, as evidenced in this exhibition. There is a strong affinity for creating harmony in a composition with flowing lines and a reverence for the brushstroke. You may also notice colors influenced by the natural glazes and textures of pottery and shapes that echo the fluid motion of calligraphy.
"Although there have been many talented Korean artists, there are many who have not been noticed," stated exhibition co-curator Geuryung Lee. Co-curator Hojin Lee continued, "This exhibition, featuring artists working in both Korea and the U.S., showcases the depth of talent and purpose that identifies and distinguishes Korean culture from others."
Co-curator and BWAC co-president Alicia Degener added, "Especially now, in these past two years of Covid that have been marred by incidents of Asian hate, we at BWAC felt it was time to focus on the positive aspects of art in an effort to demystify a culture and promote international harmony through that art."
Visit the exhibition, Brooklyn Seoul, at the BWAC Gallery, 481 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn. The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 6 pm. There will be an artists' reception on Saturday, November 13 from 1 to 6 pm. BWAC would like to thank Amazon for their generous support for this exhibition. The City of New York requires proof of vaccination to visit the gallery.