MMCA reflects on annual Korea Artist Prize ahead of proposed overhaul

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is reflecting on its annual Korea Artist Prize. Through its archival exhibition “10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize,” which kicked off last week at...

An installation view of the “10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize″ exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. [MMCA]

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is reflecting on its annual Korea Artist Prize.

Through its archival exhibition “10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize,” which kicked off last week at the Seoul branch in Jongno District, central Seoul, the museum presents interview videos and other materials from the finalists and other art experts who have contributed to the award.

The Korea Artist Prize stems back to 1995, when it was an exhibition series called “Artist of the Year.” In 2012 it transformed into its current award-based system and is co-organized with SBS Foundation.

Each year, some four artists are shortlisted to present their works in a collective exhibition. After undergoing an additional evaluation by the team of judges comprised of local and overseas art experts, one winner is chosen.

An installation view of the “10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize″ exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. [MMCA]

Last year’s edition named Choi Chan-sook the winner. Choi's work revolves around “the stories of migration, immigration and communities.” Winners of previous editions include Lee Seul-gi, Song Sang-hee, Noh Sun-tag and the artist duo Moon Kyung-won and Jeon Joon-ho.

Shortlisted artists are given the opportunity to star in documentaries on major television channels including SBS and prize money of 40 million won ($28,220). They are also funded for international exhibitions and projects, for example, Moon and Jeon’s exhibition at the Korea Pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 2015.

The winner receives an extra 10 million won.

This year, however, a group of finalists has not been chosen. The MMCA said that it aims to think back on the original intention of the award and the need for it to continue. It is going the extra mile to contemplate on how the prize also affects the art world and Korean society.

An installation view of the “10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize″ exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. [MMCA]

For the past 10 years, the Korea Artist Prize has been subject to some criticism. Experts have pointed out flaws in its competitive system and claimed that artists of a specific genre are more likely to be chosen as winners.

For instance, in 2020, when social distancing measures were strict due to Covid-19, some of the judges who lived overseas were unable to enter the country and a winner was chosen remotely based on text descriptions and video works provided by the finalists.

This method faced backlash, with other art insiders saying that it was “problematic that an art prize that claims to have the highest authority in the Korean art scene did not undergo sufficient evaluation on site.”

The same year, one of the shortlisted artists Jung Yoon-suk was attacked by feminists and the political Women’s Party for “objectifying women” and being “misogynistic” due to his video works centering on sex dolls. They deemed he was “unqualified as a finalist for the Korea Artist Prize.”

“The prize has been unable to fulfill a role in which it dynamically builds upon a specific discourse,” art critic Hong Kyoung-han told the Korea JoongAng Daily. “It should have artworks that raise questions about problems for humankind and encourage the public to join in, but it just sees artists present their works and have visitors see them, and that’s it [...] The controversy surrounding Jung’s sex dolls should have developed into an ongoing public discussion about how we should approach gender issues, but it failed to do so.”

An installation view of the “10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize″ exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. [MMCA]

The award system should be based on not grading each artist “like giving out medals to athletes in the Olympics,” Hong added, but rather finding a different way to disclose the “dignity” of each artist’s works.

The Korean name for Korea Artist Prize translates to “This Year’s Artist Prize,” which Hong noted was “funny,” because “does it mean that only the winner represents this year, making every other artist unqualified to do so?”

The MMCA has agreed to announce plans by next February with a proposal on how it will improve the award’s system.

“10-Year Path of Korea Artist Prize” continues until March 26 next year. The MMCA is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, hours extend to 9 p.m. Tickets are 4,000 won for adults who are 25 years old and above.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]