전통과 현대의 다리를 놓다

Lee Kyung-sung(1919-2009) who has been known as an administrator and art critic, spent most of his life as a director at Incheon City Museum and National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea. He laid the foundation stone of the study of Korean modern art. This study attempted to search his recognition of art history of Korea, focusing on the meaning of the modern art in Korean art history. Art History of Korea which was written by Lee Kyung-sung in 1962, is an early exemplary case among the same title books since the liberation in 1945. He wrote about modern art in the book, which is a very critical point that shows his perspective on art history since it has not been dealt with in any other book. He made every effort to collect traditional art works while serving as a director at Incheon City Museum and developed his ability to look at Korean traditional art works during frequent meeting with Choi Sun-woo at National Museum. Based on the recognition of modern art that connects traditional art to contemporary art, he established the foundation of description of modern art. He wrote a variety of fields such as painting, sculpture, crafts, the starting point of Korean modern art and etc. As the first researcher on modern art, the perspective on the classification of the periods of modern art shows some differences as studies progress. His studies on modern art considered the progress toward contemporary art. Lee Kyung-sung’s study on modern art history is connected with exhibitions through collecting materials and finding art works. His particular career as a curator at museums and art critic related to the study on art history made it possible to produce remarkable achievements.