National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Art Bank, Social Contribution Program 'Yesullo:On' Officially Launched

Kimhwa High School) Han Young-wook_Face_Oil on aluminum, scratch_56x162_2010. (Photo by National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art)

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) announced on the 10th that it will operate the social contribution program "Yesullo路:On," which lends and exhibits artworks from the Art Bank free of charge in culturally underserved areas, as an official project this year at two locations in the Gangwon region.

This program began as a pilot last year, visiting three sites including schools and military units in the Gyeongbuk region. This year, it will expand to two locations in the Gangwon region for the second time, and plans to extend nationwide to areas such as Chungcheong in 2022. "Yesullo路:On" is a compound word combining ‘Yesullo (路)’, meaning the path where art reaches culturally underserved areas, ‘Oda’ (to come), warm ‘On-gi (溫)’ (warmth), and turning on the artistic sensitivity ‘switch (ON)’, signifying the practice of everyday art enjoyed by all. Experts assist with artwork lending, exhibition consulting, and implementation so that residents in culturally underserved areas can enjoy high-quality culture and arts in their daily spaces.

This year, Kimhwa High School, located near the Military Demarcation Line and where teachers and students have a strong interest in art practice and appreciation, and the Navy 1st Fleet Command, which has limited opportunities for cultural and artistic participation, were selected. Through this project, approximately 17 artworks from the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Art Bank collection will be lent and exhibited free of charge for about four months from December 12 to December 9.

At Kimhwa High School, eight contemporary artworks emphasizing formal elements and experimental expression techniques will be exhibited to help students feel more familiar and interested in contemporary art. At the Navy 1st Fleet Command, nine artworks that can enhance vitality within the space will be exhibited to help soldiers and others experience culture and arts, refresh the atmosphere during military life, and cultivate cultural literacy.

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Art Bank was established in 2005 to develop domestic art culture and the art market and to enhance the public’s cultural enjoyment rights through purchasing, lending, and exhibiting artworks. The Art Bank purchases excellent works annually and currently holds about 3,900 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, crafts, prints, installations, and photographs. The Art Bank’s collection is lent and exhibited to public institutions, corporations, and overseas diplomatic missions, contributing to the popularization of domestic art culture.

Yun Beom-mo, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, stated, “We will continue to strive to expand the experience of art appreciation to citizens in various regions where access to museums is difficult, such as military units and schools.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.