New MMCA director pledges to protect freedom of expression

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The Korea Times

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New MMCA director pledges to protect freedom of expression

Posted : 2015-12-14 16:55

Updated : 2015-12-14 21:31

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Kim Jong-deok, right, poses with Bartomeu Mari, the newly appointed director of the country's National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, during a ceremony at the government complex in Sejong, Monday, to present Mari a letter of appointment. / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Bartomeu Mari, the newly-appointed director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), said he will guarantee freedom of expression for artists.

Mari, 49, the first foreigner to head the nation's flagship art museum, introduced himself as the new director and curator at a press conference, Monday. The Spain-born director spoke to the media after his appointment ceremony with culture minister Kim Jong-deok Monday morning. Mari's term is three years.

"I will strengthen the international aspects of the museum to upgrade the museum to the next level," Mari told the reporters at the Central Government Complex in Seoul.

Mari's focal project will be partnerships with internationally established institutes such as co-curating and touring exhibitions based on his networks of art experts.

He is a former director of Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) and currently serves as the president of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CiMAM).

Mari resigned from MACBA in March over a controversial artwork at "The Beast and the Sovereign" exhibit that satirizes the former Spanish king, sparking an argument that he tried to censor art.

A group of over 500 Korean artists, curators and other art-related officials issued a statement against censorship and regulation to Mari and the culture ministry last week.

Mari clarified the circumstances regarding his resignation at MACBA, saying that the curators withheld some information which delayed the opening of the exhibit and he stepped down to take responsibility. "I admit I made a mistake by delaying the opening. Considering the effect that created, which was very negative, I offered my resignation."

He added that it is not true that he fired the two curators in revenge as he resigned on March 23 and the curators were sacked on April 1.

Mari pledged to help turn MMCA into a producer of art, not just a container. "Korean modern and contemporary art does not have its narrative yet. There are great artists and works, but no links among them. I will try to let the world know more about Korean art by helping find the narrative," Mari said.

Mari was one of the jurors for the Hermes Foundation Missulsang in 2011 and visited Gwangju Biennale last year. The MMCA had an exhibit from MACBA's collection during Mari's term in 2010. The new director said he knows about Korean art history to a certain extent and he believes Korea is a suitable place for building a structural system between artists and society.

"I really believe that the development of MMCA is not necessarily based on taking a model that exists somewhere and implementing here," he said. "It's not a question of importing but inventing and fine-tuning a new model of making art in the public sphere. I think that's very possible here."

Mari also said he will learn Korean, hoping to communicate in the local language within a year.

Mari is being compared to Guus Hiddink ― the former national football team coach who guided Korea into the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup ― in the Korean art community, as he is expected to be immune to Korea's chronic school ties and regionalism.

"Hiddink had great results during the World Cup, but art is not competing with the other," Mari said. "I hope people will remember great exhibitions at MMCA, not the director."

meeyoo@ktimes.com