Naju Small Art Museum Hosts National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Art Bank Collection Exhibition

"Staying in Naju: Landscapes of Memory" as the Theme
Exhibition of 33 Works by Leading Korean Artists

Naju Small Art Museum (Eupseong Village Management Social Cooperative) will host a special exhibition of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Art Bank Collection, titled "Staying in Naju: Landscapes of Memory," from December 17, 2025, to January 15, 2026.

This exhibition is being organized as part of the "2025 Small Art Museum Establishment and Operation Support Project" by the Arts Council Korea.

It is a meaningful cultural project designed to allow local citizens to experience the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Art Bank Collection up close.

For this exhibition, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Art Bank has loaned a total of 33 pieces to Naju free of charge. The Arts Council Korea has supported artwork transportation, insurance, and exhibition operations, thereby providing local citizens with the opportunity to appreciate high-quality contemporary art.

The exhibition will take place in Buildings 4 (Painting) and 5 (Photography) of the Naju Small Art Museum. Major artists such as Kang Yo-bae and Lee Wal-jong, who represent Korean contemporary art, as well as Lee Myung-ho, Lee Jeong-rok, and Lim Sang-bin, who are actively working both domestically and internationally, will participate.

The exhibited works encompass various emotional and visual layers, including nature, city, memory, and daily life, offering a profound view of contemporary landscapes and sensibilities.

The exhibition title, "Staying in Naju: Landscapes of Memory," reflects the intention that works created in different times and contexts generate new meanings as they temporarily reside in the space of "Naju" and encounter the perspectives of visitors.

The textures of nature, traces of the city, and fragments of narrative within the works combine with the memories and emotions of viewers to create another "landscape of memory."

Lee Myung-kyu, CEO of Eupseong Village Management Social Cooperative, stated, "This special exhibition is a valuable opportunity for citizens to experience the diverse landscape of contemporary art up close and share artistic sensibilities," adding, "It was made possible thanks to the support of the Arts Council Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Art Bank."

In particular, this special exhibition is regarded as the most significant since Director Na Sunhu took office, and is considered a representative project that most clearly showcases the director's planning and directing capabilities. Director Na has been praised for organically connecting the unique spatial structure of the Small Art Museum with the characteristics of the Art Bank collection, thereby completing the overall exhibition flow and artwork arrangement.

Na Sunhu, who oversaw the exhibition, commented, "I focused on harmoniously linking the spatial characteristics of Naju Small Art Museum with the nature of the Art Bank collection. When the location of a work changes, the way it is appreciated also changes. I hope each visitor will discover new landscapes by overlaying their own memories and emotions onto the works."

The exhibition is open free of charge from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and group visits require advance reservation.