Art Talk Live: Kim Whanki’s Lyrical Landscapes

Join Suna Cha for a survey of Kim Whanki’s career as well as an analysis of four of his gouaches, which are currently on loan to the museums and are being exhibited for the first time.

“Where, in what form, shall we meet again?” is a verse Whanki borrowed from Korean poet Kim Kwang-sŏp to title a series of “dot paintings” he made while living in New York in 1970. The words encapsulate both his sense of nostalgia for his native homeland and his fascination with encounters between line, shape, and color. As artists searched for alternative modes of expressing Indigenous identity following the crises of colonialism, war, and geopolitical division, Whanki’s lyrical approach to abstraction and fondness for nature blazed a new path for modern Korean art.

Led by:
Suna Cha, graduate student intern, Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art

This talk is part of the series Fresh Perspectives, an initiative that centers the role of the museumgoer. Like talks in the ReFrame series, these programs highlight diverse voices and broad interpretations of difficult histories and untold narratives. This approach encourages visitors to consider alternative ways of understanding an object, culture, or theme.

This talk will take place online via Zoom. The event is free and open to all, but registration is required. To register, please complete this online form.

Please read these instructions on how to join a meeting on Zoom. For general questions about Art Talks, email am_register@harvard.edu.

Art Talks Live are presented via Zoom and offer an up-close look at works from our collections and on exhibition with our team of curators, conservators, fellows, and graduate students.

The Harvard Art Museums are committed to accessibility for all visitors. For anyone requiring accessibility accommodations for our programs, please contact us at am_register@harvard.edu at least 48 hours in advance.