The exhibition Watercolor: Painting with Water, which was held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Cheongju, is the first of its kind in Korea to focus solely on watercolor collections, and it reveals certain limitations. Watercolor, once considered a "new art form" in the modern era, has struggled to establish itself as an independent genre, often overshadowed by the more vivid and rich oils and acrylics. It has often been perceived as "unfinished work" or a preliminary stage before oil painting. Although the "Watercolor" exhibition, which was previewed to the press on the 18th, is composed exclusively of watercolor works, some mixed-media pieces have been included, which prevents it from fully conveying the true essence of the "clear and transparent" watercolor. On the other hand, the exhibition stands out for its collection of even small works by the artists, fulfilling one of the museum's main functions as an "archive."
March 19, 2025
