김중현, 구본웅, 이인성의 《遺作三人展》(천일화랑, 1954) 고찰

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This article examines the Three-Person Exhibition of Posthumous Works, which showcased artworks by Kim Junghyun, Go Bon-ung, and Lee Insung, all of whom passed away during the Korean War (1950-53), at Cheonil Gallery in September 1954. Hosted by the Korean Art Association and the Seoul Newspaper, the exhibition was mounted by the bereaved families of the three artists and their colleagues to commemorate the artists and honor their accomplishments. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the whereabouts of the exhibited works and their collectors, using exhibition leaflets, posters, photographs, and newspaper articles from the time. However, out of the 39 featured works, only a few could be identified, especially those documented in newspaper photographs. The titles of the works printed in the exhibition leaflets serve as clues to information about the works, such as their subject matter, including figures, landscapes, and still life.<BR/> The list of collectors allows us to examine the relationships between each artist and their collectors, their activities, and their status in the post- war Korean art world, thereby contributing to existing scholarship. While the collectors of Kim Junghyun’s works were his colleagues, it was the bereaved families who collected most of Gu Bon-ung’s avant-garde works. Contemporary artists, such as Park Soo-keun and Kim In-seung, acquired Lee Insung’s works. This suggests that different groups of collectors were involved in the collection process following the exhibition, providing key information essential for tracking down the whereabouts of individual works.<BR/> The significance of the Three-Person Exhibition of Posthumous Works lies in its gathering of works by artists who had died amid the chaos of the Korean War. This historic exhibition established a solid foundation for research on Kim Junghyun, Gu Bon-ung, and Lee Insung, situating their positions within the history of modern Korean art. Lee Wan-suk, who curated the exhibition of posthumous works, opened the gallery at Cheonil Department Store in Yeji-dong, Jongno-gu, proclaiming it to be a comprehensive art center. However, the gallery was closed within less than half a year due to operational difficulties. Despite this, Cheonil Gallery mounted groundbreaking exhibitions that remain a legacy in the history of modern and contemporary Korean art, such as the Exhibition of Contemporary Artists and the Three-Person Exhibition of Posthumous Works.