The History of Internationality and Originality in Traditional Korean Painting and Modern and Contemporary Ink and Color Painting

Korea and China, as part of the same tradition of East Asian painting, share ink painting and color painting as common mediums while displaying distinct characteristics. These differences arise not only from their varying historical and cultural contexts but also from fundamental divergences in temperament, preferences, and aesthetic sensibilities. Inspired by the opening of The Modern and Contemporary Ink Art of the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China exhibition, this paper explores the internationality and originality of traditional Korean painting from the prehistoric era to the Joseon dynasty through representative works and analyzes the distinctive features of modern and contemporary pieces by late Korean artists featured in the exhibition. Over 4,000 years during the prehistoric era, Korea developed its foundational culture through exchanges with Northern Eurasian cultural regions, distinct from China. This allowed Koreans to cultivate a unique language and emotional expressions, fostering originality. Building on this foundation, Korea selectively absorbed, transformed, and recreated influences from China to align with its cultural disposition. This tradition has continued into modern and contemporary times, with Korean artists establishing unique and individual creative worlds while engaging with global art, including interactions with Japan.