About Hakgojae Gallery

Hakgojae, opened at Insa-dong, in 1988, signifies ‘a house learning the old’. According to the meaning of the word, Hakgojae started with an attitude of ‘appreciating the old and seeking the new’. From then on, Hakgojae has been exploring the antique Korean art works and familiarizing people with the result that used to be inaccessible to the public. Exhibitions such as Paintings and Calligraphy of 19th Century Literati, Unsigned Paintings, Paintings in the Late of Korean Empire, Calligraphy in the Middle of Joseon Dynasty: From Toegye to King Jeongjo, Letters and Pictures of the Late Joseon Dynasty: Paintings and Calligraphy in the Period between King Injo and King Jeongjo, Aesthetics of Meeting and Parting: Get-together Paintings and Farewell Poems of Joseon Dynasty, The Art and Taste of Gentlemen (Seonbi), Power and Energy of the Late Joseon Dynasty Paintings are some examples of distinctive Hakgojae exhibitions, introducing masterpieces of antique Korean paintings and calligraphy. Hakgojae also epitomized the Zeitgeist of Korean Minjoong Art in 1980s through the works of Kang Yo-bae, Kim Jeong-heon, Min Jeong-gi, Shin Yeong-bok, Shin Hak-cheol, O Yun, Lee Jong-gu, Lee Cheol-su and the like. In 2003, Hakgojae opened a new gallery building, designed by architect Itami Jun, a Korean architect active in Japan; and has been widening its coverage from antique paintings and calligraphy to works of promising Korean artists and talented Chinese artists.

Hakgojae got closer to substantiation of the idea ‘learning the old and creating a new’ by opening another exhibition hall ‘Art Space Seoul’ (now Sogyeok-dong Hakgojae) at Sogyeok-dong in 1996. Sogyeok-dong Hakgojae, on the opposite side of Gyeongbokgung, the main palace during the Joseon Dynasty, has the exterior of traditional Korean house (Hanok). This place is to present a broad spectrum of contemporary art. An encounter between traditional Hanok structure and unconventional contemporary art enables the audience to get a singular experience. Characteristic exhibitions of Sogyeok-dong Hakgojae include Architect Le Corbusier’s Paintings, Jene Highstein, American Minimalist Sculptor, Tim Lowly, Minimalism as Landscape featuring Frank Stella and Donald Judd, Yun Seok-nam: Light Sowing, Kim Won-suk: Black and White Paintings, Lee Su-hong: Inside Outside. Sogyeok-dong Hakgojae is also making an effort to encourage young and talented artists in paying attention to the vicissitudes of contemporary art. Ik-Joong Kang, winner of Special Merit Award at 1997 Venice Biennale, is an illustrious example of that.

Hakgojae is to faithful in the mission of interpreting our ancestors’ illuminating culture as before and to keep on groping for a productive role to answer the call of time.

Featured Artists: Kang Kyung-Gu, Kang Mi-Sun, Kang Yo-Bae, Kang Ik-Joong, Kwon Ki-Yoon, Kim Sun-Doo, Kim Suk, Kim Jung-Hun, Kim Ho-Deuk, Kim Won-Sook, Moon Bong-Sun, Min Jung-Ki, Song Phil-Yong, Song Hyun-Sook, Suk Chul-Joo, Shin Hak-Chul, Shim Hyun-Hee, An Kyu-Chul, Yoon Suk-Nam, Lee Jong-Gu, Lee Bae, Lee Ho-Shin, Jia Youfu