A remarkable artistic connection between two abstract masters from different continents is being celebrated in a new exhibition that explores the profound bond between Korean artist Kim Whanki and American abstract expressionist Adolph Gottlieb. The upcoming show, titled "The Language of Abstraction, The Universe of Emotion," at Pace Gallery in Seoul brings together works that demonstrate how a chance encounter at an international art fair sparked a lasting artistic kinship that would influence the course of modern art history.
Kim Whanki, who lived from 1913 to 1974, had already established himself as a prominent artist in South Korea when he made the bold decision to relocate to New York at the age of 50. As a relentless innovator constantly pushing the boundaries of his artistic expression, Kim's creative trajectory took a dramatic turn when he encountered the paintings of American abstract expressionist Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974) at the 1963 São Paulo Art Biennial. This pivotal meeting left such an indelible impression on the Korean master that it became one of the driving forces behind his decision to move to New York later that same year, forever changing the direction of his artistic career.
The dual exhibition showcases carefully selected works from both artists spanning the 1960s and 1970s, a period that coincides with Kim's transformative years in New York. According to the Whanki Museum, this era represented the time when Kim's "search for the essence of nature evolved into a most pristine and complete form of abstraction." During these crucial years, Kim immersed himself completely in New York's vibrant and dynamic art scene, where he began to gradually eliminate all figurative references from his work and refined his artistic language into fundamental elements of dots, lines, and planes.
This artistic evolution reached its peak with groundbreaking works such as "Universe 05-IV-71 #200," a monumental blue-dot painting created in 1971. While this particular masterpiece is not included in the current exhibition, it made art history when it became the most expensive Korean painting ever sold, fetching approximately $11.3 million at a Christie's Hong Kong auction in November 2019. Kim's celebrated Dot Paintings series, completed during these transformative New York years, played a crucial role in introducing Korean Modernism to the global stage and establishing Korea's place in the international contemporary art world.
The profound connection between these two pioneering abstract artists appears to have emerged from their shared commitment to the language of abstraction and their mutual quest for universal expression that could transcend cultural and geographical boundaries. While the full extent of their personal friendship remains undocumented in art historical records, Kim's personal journal entries suggest that the two artists maintained contact over the years following their initial meeting. In one particularly touching entry, Kim expressed his relief at hearing Gottlieb's voice after learning that the American artist had fallen ill, revealing the depth of their personal connection beyond their artistic kinship.
The exhibition has been organized through a collaboration between the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation and the Whanki Foundation, bringing together ten significant paintings by Kim and six important works by Gottlieb. The artworks will be displayed across the gallery's second and third floors, allowing visitors to experience the dialogue between these two masters' approaches to abstraction. Among the notable works on display by Gottlieb, who was a key figure in the American Abstract Expressionism movement, is the large-scale painting "Expanding" (1962) from his signature Burst series. These iconic paintings are characterized by their distinctive pairing of a hovering circular form in the upper portion of the canvas with energetic, gestural brushwork below.
"The Language of Abstraction, The Universe of Emotion" is scheduled to open to the public on Friday and will run through January 10 of the following year, giving art enthusiasts and scholars ample time to explore this unique artistic dialogue between East and West. The exhibition represents not only a celebration of two individual artistic achievements but also a testament to how cross-cultural encounters can profoundly shape the development of modern art and create lasting bonds that transcend national boundaries.
