"The Power of Asian Art" Kim Sun-hee, Director of Busan Museum of Art

[the webdaily=Lee So young] I met Kim Sun-hee, the director of the Busan Museum of Art, who was preparing to open the first exhibition of 2019, titled, 'REPETITION AND DIFFERENCE: ABOUT TIME'.
Kim Sun-hee, the director of the museum, is a well known international art expert. She has worked with the Mori art Museum in Tokyo, the Himalayan Art Center in Shanghai, the Daegu Museum of Art, and the Kim Chang-yeol Museum in Jeju.

I asked for her expert opinion on the present situation of the modern Asian art and the direction of Korean art in the world today.

Q. It's been a year since you were appointed to the Busan Museum of Art. Please tell us how things are progressing and some of the things you have achieved in that time

It's only been a year, so it's really hard to describe the outcome of the things that are still in progress. First of all, we are focusing on revitalizing the museum and presenting good exhibitions.

In 2018, the museum was lauded for its 20th anniversary event and exhibition. I'm also pleased to tell you that the "Botenica" exhibition held last September during the Busan Biennale was also well received. The director's job is diverse, but it's most important to present great exhibitions.

Also, because the lobby is the face of the museum, we had to renovated the café & restaurant and the art shop. Our art ambassador, Mark Teto, praised us by saying he felt like he was at the New York Museum of Art restaurant. We will continue our progress.
Q. You have worked in all three Asian countries, including the Tokyo Mori Art Museum, Shanghai Himalayan Art Center, and Daegu Museum of Art. I am curious about your thoughts on the recent trends in the contemporary art in Korea, China and Japan.

In the past 10 to 20 years, the Asian art has solidified its presence in the international art world. Twenty years ago, the Western artists monopolized the stage, but now the Asian artists are at the center.

But now, you need to know Asian modern art in order to understand the world trend. It's a big boost to know that the world no longer ignores Asia, and we expect this trend to continue. In fact, there is a correlation between the culture and art, and the economical strength of the represented countries. That's why the world doesn't know about the North Korean artists very well.

It's a pleasure to know that especially in Asia, the art of Korea, China and Japan have been making their presence known in the art world. Behind them are the Indian, Indonesian, and Middle Eastern artists.

Q. Hong Kong Art Basel Co., Asia's top art fair, and Shanghai Westbund Art &Design & Art021 Co., Ltd. have an immense power. What is your opinion in regards to the support policy of modern art in China, and do you have any suggestions for the support policy of art in our country?

Because Hong Kong is an international tax-free city, capital flows freely. Shanghai has high taxes but it has a luxurious culture.

China has the power to push ahead with big projects that we have never imagined. China is one of the G2 countries along with the U.S., both politically and economically, therefore Chinese modern art has the power to dominate the international market.

The Chinese art market has been slightly depressed with the recent bubble bursting, but its inherent power is great. The Chinese art sector is also in discussion to find ways to bring about further growth. The city of Shanghai is also actively supporting modern art. Korea also needs to make quick policy decisions, and a continued support from the government.

We should always pay attention the China art because it is the heart of Asia, and I hope our country can lead Asian modern art along with China.

In the past, Chinese collectors only bought Chinese artworks. But now they're also interested in the international art trends, therefore they're interested in the artworks of the world-famous artists. The overflow of visitors to Hong Kong and Shanghai Art Fair means that the art market in this area is well developed.

Q. Busan is the second largest city in Korea, and the Busan Biennale and Art Fair in Busan are growing day by day. As the art director of the Busan Museum of Art, what do you think Busan should be different from Seoul as a city of art?

In Korea, art museums and galleries are concentrated in Seoul. Unlike most countries, even the National Museum of Contemporary Art is located in the middle of the capitol, Seoul, instead of on the outskirts of the country.

Busan is a dynamic and attractive city, so it needs a modernized national policy to vitalize its culture. The Busan Museum of Art should be able to actively play the role of a representative museum in the southern region. And not only presenting exhibitions, but also needs to be involved with research, and to discover artists from the region.

There is a saying that if you want to be a successful artist, you must go to Seoul. And this is a sad statement that needs to change. It means that the cultural infrastructure in the outskirts of the country are inadequate. Culture shouldn’t be discriminated against. We need to develop a support policy for the young and talented artists so that they can be recognized even in the outskirts of the country.

As the living standard of the citizens increases, the desire to see good exhibitions is also increasing. It's important to provide adequate museum staff, and the budget has to be sufficient. But I'm afraid the culture and art is getting the least amount of attention when it comes to city budgeting. It is an honor to work in an art museum representing Busan, but on the other hand, there are these difficulties.

Ultimately, not only Busan citizens but also the tourists are looking for their favorite art museums. We hope to be a resting place where the citizens can come and get away from their tired and boring everyday lives.
Q. So far, you have planned many exhibitions, and have played an important role in introducing famous artists at home and abroad. Which one is the most memorable exhibition and the artist?

When I was working at Mori art Museum in Japan, I invited Seo Do-ho and Ham-jin to hold a group exhibition of Korean young artists, and hosted the first abroad solo exhibition of the Kinetic artist Choi Woo-ram. It was an exhibition that received a lot of international attention. I also recommended artist Choi Jeong-hwa’s exhibition to the Helsinki Museum in Finland.

At the Daegu Museum of Art, exhibitions by the British artist, Inca Shonibare, and Chinese artist, Zhang Xiaogang, were very popular. In particular, the Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition, led to a world tour.

The role of the media is also important to promote Korean artists. These days, the artworks that receive the most media exposure receive the most attention. The Japanese TV station NHK broadcasts two hours every weekend about the art galleries and artists. The same is true of other stations. But in our country, unfortunately there are too few art programs and they are broadcasted at odd hours.

Q. The appointment and dismissal of the directors of Korea's major art museums is continuing. I wonder what you think is the solution.

It's a sensitive and a difficult question. I don't want to say anything clearly. However, I think that in the future, the area of the director's specialty should be further divided so that many museums can coexist. There are a lot of specialists in general hospitals.So, it is necessary for art museums to apply the same system.

For example, advanced countries such as Japan and the U.S. have professional academic experts representing different regions and genre. What a wonderful exhibition we could have if there are curators specializing in video art or curators specializing in African art in Korea! I'm sure other directors also have a lot of things they want to do, but their terms are short and they have many things to worry about. I look forward to seeing the great efforts of museum directors with experience and knowledge to solve the complexities of the museum operation.

Q. I wonder when something moved your heart. And when do you feel rewarded being the director of the museum?

I feel rewarded when the talented artists are recognized through the exhibitions presented by me. Choi Byeong-so and Kwon Boo-moon, who have been working for a long time without seeing the light, were recognized internationally through the Daegu Museum of Art exhibition. Finding and promoting great artists is one of my roles. If the museum is a ship, the director is the captain. The director should guide the direction of the museum and also take care of even the smallest concerns of the visitors.

Q. In fact, the museums and art works have little to do with the livelihood of the public. But we still pay attention to the arts and art museums. Why is that?

What is the net function of art? I heard that the humanities are important these days. The basics of humanities, the technology, the economy, etc. are essential to life. The same goes for art. If there were no music, no art, how would our lives be different?

Humans are emotional animals. Human imagination and mental power are expressed in the arts and culture. Without culture and art, our creativity will diminish and our society will perish.

As we can see in the case of North Korea, the people cannot express and create arts to their heart's content because their society is closed off. It's hard to practice art in times of war. Of course there are cases of soldier painters, but what good is art when your life is in danger?

The ultimate goal of art is understanding, peace and international exchange. Art makes humans beautiful, and it teaches us good lessons.

Human beings are creatures that need to express through creativity. Since the primitive times, humans have expressed themselves, and everyday behaviors such as clothes and hairstyle shave also been linked to artistic impulses. Every human being has an artistic sensibility, but it's an artist who can put it all together. Even if you're not a genius artist, sometimes everyone needs to see art and be stimulated, so we can be awaken to something new.

Q. Art museums and galleries both play a role in introducing artworks to the public, but art museums are different in that they do not have a commercial interest. Please explain the differences between the functions of art museum sand galleries.

Galleries have to sell the artworks first, whereas art museums have the public interest at heart. The purpose of the museum is to introduce special works to the public.

Overseas art museums are allowed to receive financial assistance from galleries to provide better exhibitions, but unfortunately the art museums in Korea are prohibited from receiving aid. It's impossible to get a corporate or a foundation support either. Therefore, it is difficult for our public art museums to produce good exhibitions on a limited budget.

Q. Please tell us about your major exhibitions in 2019.

On the 14th of this month, we will open the ‘REPETITION AND DIFFERENCE : ABOUT TIME’exhibition. It’s about how human beings are born interlocked with time, and how we are brainwashed by time.

In June, we will have a solo exhibition by Lee Kun-yong. Lee Kun-yong is an international star who received favorable reviews at last year's Beijing Face Gallery exhibition.

In July, we will introduce Finland's contemporary art and design through 'Finnish Wave'(working title), and in December we will have a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist Shiharu Shiota.

Lee U-fan Space is hosting a monthly event that will invite celebrities. Lee U-fan is a brilliant artist the world loves, but many people have not had a chance to enjoy his work in the past due to lack of access. In our museum, you can always enjoy the artworks through 'Lee U-fan Space' which is designed by the artist himself and donated by the artist.

'Lee U-fan Space' is a valuable asset to our country and the world. Through this place, We will explore the reasons why artist Lee Ufan is receiving worldwide attention and try to make our museum a popular attraction for many people. I ask for your support for this year's exhibitions at our art museum.
Q. As the director, I want to know about your future plans as an art specialist.

Next year, I will be 60 years old. I want to study art philosophy and ideas continuously in order to enrich my mind. I'm so busy, but I want to live a deeper and more meaningful life. I'm looking over it every day, but I'm always concerned if I’m not doing everything I possibly can as the director of this art museum.

People’s thoughts are continually evolving, and so is the world around us. My favorite artists in the past and my ideas about art have also gradually changed and evolved with time. That's why one needs to be prepared to learn at all times. After I retire, I'd like to write a book about researching art museums.

본 기사는 2019년 3월 11일 게재된 '[Asia Arts] "아시아 미술의 힘" 김선희 부산시립미술관장' 인터뷰를 영문으로 번역한 기사입니다.

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