Exterior View of
Donald Judd Solo Exhibition at INKONG Gallery, Seoul, 1991 ©PIBI GalleryPIBI
Gallery will present a special exhibition, 《INKONG
ARCHIVE》, from March 26 to May 10, showcasing archival
materials and artworks from Inkong Gallery, one of Korea’s first-generation
contemporary art galleries that paved new paths in the Korean art scene.
This
exhibition commemorates the transfer of Inkong Gallery’s archive to PIBI
Gallery and has been organized based on systematic research and documentation.
Focusing on the pioneering role that Inkong Gallery played in the Korean art
world during the 1980s and 1990s, the exhibition highlights works and materials
from Hwang Hyun Wook, the gallery’s founder and director, along with key
artists associated with the gallery.
Installation View
of Richard Long Solo Exhibition at INKONG Gallery, Seoul, 1993 ©PIBI GalleryFounded
in Daegu in 1986 and later opening a Seoul branch in Daehakro in 1988, Inkong
Gallery actively introduced works by artists such as Yun Hyong-keun, Lee Ufan,
Kim Yong-Ik, and Park Hyunki—figures who had not yet received full recognition
in the mainstream art scene at that time. The gallery contributed significantly
to the early acknowledgment of their artistic value. Furthermore, it played a
crucial role in introducing major trends in global contemporary art to Korea by
hosting solo exhibitions for Donald Judd in 1991 and Richard Long in 1993.
《INKONG
ARCHIVE》 will focus on Inkong Gallery’s exhibitions and
activities during the 1980s and 1990s, featuring significant works from artists
who closely collaborated with director Hwang Hyun Wook.
The
exhibition includes Yun Hyong-keun’s late-1980s paintings, Lee Ufan’s paintings
and terracotta works, Kim Yong-Ik’s large-scale paintings from his 1991 solo
exhibition at Inkong Gallery as well as early-2000s paintings, Kibong Rhee’s
paintings from the 1988 Seoul exhibition, and Lee Kyo Jun’s charcoal drawings.
These works, along with pieces from the gallery’s collection, provide a
comprehensive view of its artistic legacy.
Installation View
of Lee Ufan Solo Exhibition at INKONG Gallery, Seoul ©PIBI GalleryAdditionally,
the exhibition will present posters, unpublished photographs, letters, and
various archival documents, offering an in-depth exploration of Inkong
Gallery’s significance in the art world of that era.
As part
of the exhibition, a talk program will be held in early April, featuring Kim
Chunhwa (Director of BIBI Space), Lee Junhee (former editor-in-chief of Monthly
Art), and artists Kim Yong-Ik and Lee Kyo Jun. Further details on the event
schedule will be announced on PIBI Gallery’s official Instagram.
