Exhibitions in Shanghai and Seoul Feature Over 70 Works, Tracing the Path of a Pioneering Korean Experimental Artist

Estate of Jung Kangja and Arario Gallery

Arario Gallery is currently showcasing approximately 70 works by Jung Kang-ja, an influential figure in Korean experimental art from the 1960s to the 1970s. Despite her significant contributions to the field, Jung remains relatively unknown to many art enthusiasts.

The exhibition, titled "Jung KangJa: Life Goes On," held in Shanghai, provides insight into Jung's artistic evolution from the 1980s to the 2000s. The displayed pieces reflect the artist's inspiration drawn from her travels across South America and Africa. 

▲ "Self Portrait with Dragon" by Jung Kang-ja (Estate of Jung Kangja and Arario Gallery)

Jung faced challenges early in her career when her debut solo show, "Incorporeality," in 1970 was forcibly closed by the authoritarian regime, branding her a "rebellious artist." Following years spent abroad, she returned to Korea in the 1980s, dedicating over four decades to her craft. Despite limited recognition in the Korean art scene, Jung's commitment to art persisted until her passing at the age of 75 in 2017, as reported by Arario Gallery.

The Shanghai exhibition, running until Jan. 6, aims to introduce Jung to Chinese collectors, emphasizing her avant-garde contributions in Korea during the 1960s and 1970s. One of her signature installations, "To Repress," created in 1968, is prominently featured.

▲ An installation view of “Jung KangJa: Life Goes On” in Shanghai (Arario Gallery)Jung Kang-ja is also part of the Guggenheim Museum's exhibition, "Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s," in New York, which opened in September 2023.

In Seoul, Arario Gallery presented Jung's works at art fairs and hosted her solo exhibition, "Jung Kangja: It Has Always Been the Beginning," concluding on Dec. 30, 2023. The Seoul exhibition focused on Jung's late paintings from 1995 to the 2000s, showcasing her transition towards abstract and transcendent forms, including motifs symbolizing Korean traditions such as a reinterpretation of hanbok, the traditional Korean attire.

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