The Family of Man
The Family of Man was a photography exhibition which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Museum of Modern Art, New York from January to May 1955. Edward Steichen, a director of the museum’s photography department since 1947, organized the exhibition. It was composed of 503 items by 273 artists from 68 countries. After its initial showing, the exhibition toured the world. In Korea, the exhibition was held at the Gyeongbokgung Palace Museum from April 3 to 28, 1957. The exhibition portrayed the diverse lives of people around the world attempting to portray mankind as a single family, and promote greater humanist faith in mankind. The press and art critics, however, criticized the exhibition for its overemphasis on sentimentalism and popular taste, and its exclusion of the harshness of reality.
Eight American Artists
A travelling exhibition organized by the Seattle Art Museum that was held in Asia and Europe. In Korea, the exhibition was held from April 9 to 21, 1957 at the National Museum at Seokjojeon in Deoksugung, the present location of the Deoksugung Museum. The United States Information Service in Korea supported the exhibition. The exhibition featured 30 paintings by four abstract artists: Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Kenneth Callahan, and Guy Anderson, and 10 metalwork sculptures by four sculptors: Rhys Caparn, David Hare, Seymour Lipton, and Ezio Martinelli. The exhibition introduced contemporary American art to the Korean art community, and it influenced the development of Korean abstract art.
Bando Gallery
Korea’s first commercial gallery, which opened on the first floor of Bando Hotel in 1956. The interest of the wives of foreign dignitaries and businessmen led the establishment of the gallery, which was characterized by its joint establishment and management by both the government and the private sector. After the key managers returned to their countries of origin in 1957, the gallery operated with the support of the Asia foundation. In 1959, artist Lee Daiwon took over as manager, and the gallery developed into the only permanent exhibition space in Seoul. The emergence of numerous commercial galleries in Insa-dong during the 1970s resulted in the closure of Bando Gallery.