The Hermès Foundation Missulsang has unveiled a digital archive commemorating the award’s 20th edition. © Hermès Foundation
On
September 1, the Hermès Foundation unveiled a digital archive commemorating the
20th edition of the Hermès Foundation Missulsang, titled Memories for the
Future: 25 Years of Hermès Foundation Missulsang.
Since
2000, the Missulsang has sought out and supported new practices and experiments
in Korean contemporary art.
The
archive gathers the record of twenty editions in one place, bringing together
the biographies and bodies of work of past laureates, interviews with the
former artistic directors who guided the prize, essays reflecting on the years
past, and exhibition views in both Korean and English.
Contents of “Memories for the Future: 25 Years of Hermès Foundation Missulsang” © Hermès Foundation
Beginning with a foreword by Olivier
Fournier, Chairman of the Hermès Foundation, the digital archive features
essays by Hong-hee Kim, Chair of the Nam June Paik Cultural Foundation, and art
critic Wonhwa Yoon, which examine the significance of the award within the
broader trajectory of contemporary Korean art.
The interview section features Menehould
de Bazelaire, Director of Cultural Heritage at Hermès International, along with
former Atelier Hermès artistic directors Sung Won Kim, Manu Park, Jee-sook
Beck, and Yunkyoung Kim. Together, they look back on the curatorial background
of each edition, as well as the key decisions and processes that shaped the
exhibitions on site.
Content from the book “Memories for the Future: 25 Years of Hermès Foundation Missulsang” © Hermès Foundation
Each edition’s section includes an
artist essay and exhibition views drawn from the catalogue published at the
time. The archive also provides access to 17 past catalogues, including
materials that have long been out of print or otherwise difficult to access.
Past award recipients have contributed
essays reflecting on their working conditions at the time of the award, the
process of preparing for their exhibitions, and how those experiences have
influenced their subsequent practices.
The Hermès Foundation Missulsang is a
program dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging artists. Beginning
with its 16th edition in 2016, the award shifted to a biennial format and
adopted a system in which a single recipient is selected.
The winner is chosen by a five-member
jury composed of figures from the Korean and international art communities,
following a review of applications and in-depth interviews.
Content from the book “Memories for the Future: 25 Years of Hermès Foundation Missulsang” © Hermès Foundation
Selected artists receive exhibition
funding to experiment with and produce new works, as well as opportunities to
conduct research and engage with the French art scene.
The solo exhibition of Jeamin Cha,
recipient of the 21st Hermès Foundation Missulsang, is scheduled to be the
inaugural exhibition at Atelier Hermès on the basement level of the newly
opening Hermès Maison Dosan in May 2027.
Past recipients include Young-Hae
Chang, Kim Beom, Yiso Bahc, Do Ho Suh, Park Chan-kyong, Koo Jeong A, Minouk Lim,
Seong Hwan Kim, Sanghee Song, Yoon Young Park, Yangachi, Sangdon Kim, Donghee
Koo, siren eun young jung, Minseung Jang, Geumhyung Jeong, Min Oh, Sojung Jun,
Sungsil Ryu, and Heecheon Kim.
All content in the archive is
available in Korean and English, with a Korean-French version scheduled to be
produced at a later date.
