Enduring bond between two abstract masters Kim Whanki, Adolph Gottlieb on view at Pace Seoul
Kim Whanki's "Untitled" (1967) / Courtesy of Pace Gallery, Whanki Foundation and Whanki Museum in Seoul
Korean abstract master Kim Whanki (1913-1974) was already a well-established artist in Korea when he moved to New York at the age of 50.
A relentless innovator in his own art world, Kim is said to be profoundly influenced by his encounter with the paintings of American abstract expressionist Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974) at the 1963 Sao Paulo Art Biennial — an experience that left an indelible impression and partly prompted his move to New York later that year.
This pivotal moment sparked a profound artistic kinship between the two, explored in the upcoming exhibition, titled "The Language of Abstraction, The Universe of Emotion," at Pace Gallery in Seoul.
The dual exhibit brings together the artists' work from the 1960s and 1970s, spanning Kim's time in New York.
According to the Whanki Museum, this was the period when "his search for the essence of nature evolved into a most pristine and complete form of abstraction."
Pace Gallery explained Tuesday that Kim immersed himself in New York's dynamic art scene and "gradually eliminated figurative reference from his work, refining his language into dots, lines and planes."
This evolution culminated in works like "Universe 05-IV-71 #200," a monumental blue-dot painting created in 1971. Though not included in this exhibition, the piece became the most expensive Korean painting ever sold when it fetched approximately US$11.3 million at a Christie's Hong Kong auction in November 2019.
"His celebrated Dot Paintings series, completed during these years, played a key role in the introduction of Korean Modernism to the global stage," the gallery added.
The bond between these two pioneering abstract artists is believed to have emerged from their shared language of abstraction and mutual quest for universal expression that transcends cultural boundaries.
Though the extent of their personal friendship remains undocumented, Kim's journal entries suggest they maintained contact over the years. In one entry, Kim expressed relief at hearing Gottlieb's voice after learning he had fallen ill, according to the gallery.
The exhibition, organized in collaboration with the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation and the Whanki Foundation, showcases ten paintings by Kim and six paintings by Gottlieb on the gallery's second and third floors, respectively.
Among the works on display by Gottlieb, a key figure of American Abstract Expressionism, is the large-scale painting "Expanding" (1962) from his signature Burst series — paintings pairing a hovering circular form with energetic brushwork below.
"The Language of Abstraction, The Universe of Emotion" is set to open Friday and run through Jan. 10 next year.