Gallery Hyundai is pleased to present 55 YEARS: A Legacy of Modern & Contemporary Korean Art, a special exhibition celebrating the gallery’s 55th anniversary. The exhibition unfolds in two parts, spanning Hyundai Hwarang (8 Samcheong-ro) and Gallery Hyundai (14 Samcheong-ro). On the morning of April 4th, 1970, at 10 am, Gallery Hyundai took the very first steps of its journey in Insa-dong, under the name “Hyundai Hwarang.” It has since dedicated numerous exhibitions to professional artists and raised awareness of their creative pursuits amongst collectors in Korea and abroad, corporations and international institutions alike—this year marks the gallery’s 55th year of commitment to this mission. The exhibition reflects on this journey of more than half a century, celebrating major works from artists with whom the gallery has enjoyed sustained relationships with and have become cornerstones in Korean art history. Through this exhibition, the gallery invites visitors to explore the past, present, and future of Gallery Hyundai and Korean art history.

In Part I, Hyundai Hwarang highlights works by artists who have achieved iconic status in the public consciousness, such as Park Soo-Keun, Lee Jung Seob, and Chun Kyungja. It also features figurative painters who emerged from naturalism and devoted their lives to discovering a uniquely Korean identity. During the 1970s, when Oriental painting dominated the art scene, President Park Myung-ja highlighted Western painting through exhibitions and brought contemporary art to the public and collectors through “Hwarangji,” which was the first art magazine published by a commercial gallery in Korea. This process established a significant chapter in the history of Korean modern and contemporary art, introducing artists deeply cherished by the people.

At Hyundai Hwarang, Part II presents approximately 40 works of 22 artists whose careers gained momentum through solo exhibitions organized by the gallery from the late 1970s onward. This presentation notably highlights Korean artists based in France who achieved recognition both internationally and domestically, alongside those working in pure abstraction—artists who began to be prominently introduced by the gallery from the mid-1980s. Collectively, these works trace the trajectory of Korean abstract painting in the latter half of the 20th century. Meanwhile, at Gallery Hyundai, the exhibition features around 50 works of 18 artists spanning multiple generations—from those born in the 1950s to the 1980s. This segment reflects the active involvement of HyungTeh Do, a second-generation gallerist and the gallery’s current owner and CEO, whose vision and leadership has played a pivotal role in shaping its contemporary programs. As an essential and ongoing chapter in Gallery Hyundai’s commitment to narrating the history of Korean contemporary art, this exhibition also offers a compelling glimpse into its present state and future directions. The selection encompasses a wide spectrum of artistic practices, including figurative and abstract painting, media art, photography, and works by internationally active artists of Korean descent—altogether capturing the dynamic and multifaceted landscape of Korean contemporary art today.