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| Installation view of the exhibition, "10-year Path of Korea Artist Prize," held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea's Seoul venue / Courtesy of MMCA |
By Park Han-sol
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) has replaced its annual Korea Artist Prize with an archival exhibition detailing the award's 10-year history this year, as part of efforts to reform the award system after discovering lapses during an internal audit.
Since 2012, the Korea Artist Prize, co-organized by the MMCA and SBS Foundation, has aimed to support promising creators by drawing up a shortlist of four individuals or teams each year who present new visions for the country's contemporary art.
Following the four finalists' end-of-the-year exhibition held at the museum, the winner of the "Artist of the Year" title who wins a cash prize of 10 million won ($7,015), has been announced based on a jury review.
The past recipients include the creative duo of Moon Kyung-won and Jeon Joon-ho, as well as Oh In-hwan, siren eun young jung and Choi Chan-sook. The finalists were also eligible to apply for the Korea Artist Prize Promotion Fund for their future overseas forays and projects.
But throughout its decade-long run, the annual award has been the target of criticism within the art circle for how it selects its winners as well as the inadequate level of financial and systemic support provided to the finalists after the exhibition. The prize has also been accused of a biased selection of artists in terms of their creative mediums.
"We will put our efforts into revamping the award system, including systemizing and promoting transparency in our process of jury review," MMCA director Yun Bum-mo said during a press preview of the archival exhibition, "10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize."
Following its pledge, the national museum will resume the prize next year; the four finalists are scheduled to be announced in February.
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| Installation view of the exhibition, "10-year path of Korea Artist Prize," held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea's Seoul venue / Courtesy of MMCA |
The "10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize" looks into the award's history primarily through a 35-terabyte archive of videos that document the past Korea Artist Prize exhibitions.
The screens featuring artist interviews focus on each creator's vision of the present era and the way they interpret it in their own visual language. Also on display are the filmed processes behind the artist selection and review, studio visits and curation and installation of past exhibitions.
Catalogs and handouts for the previous editions have been placed to promote a better public understanding of the prize's background.
"10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize" runs through March 16, 20203, at the MMCA Seoul.
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