Following last year's “SUMUK: Dream of Eastern Ink Painting" exhibition, celebrating the inaugural Jeonnam Ink Painting Biennale, the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong (KCC) and the Korean Province of Jeollanamdo once again present a collaborative Ink Painting Exhibition. This year, KCC also partnered with the Hong Kong Modern Ink Painting Society in order to deepen cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Korea. "2019 Korea-Hong Kong Ink Painting Exhibition: Formation and Extension" aims to promote new discourses on the art form by featuring 30 artists from Korea and Hong Kong whose works showcase the depth and wide variety of ink painting. Additionally, four artists will collaborate on a special event, the Korea-Hong Kong Ink Painting Demonstration, at the opening reception. Ink painting workshops open to all who are interested will be held the day after the reception.

The task of modern sumuk (水墨, watery ink) is to narrow the distance between its traditional identity and contemporary art, imbuing a unique aesthetic sense and formative language with a sense of vividness. More recently, beyond considering which materials to use, artists have been experimenting with sumuk as both form and content. What is the spirit of sumuk? The answer to this question will not only expand our understanding of sumuk and pave the way toward connecting modernity and tradition, but also revitalize the medium and reaffirm the importance of this heritage, with positive impacts on the future of Korean painting in general. Through the cultural exchange in this exhibition, we hope to lead a resurgence of sumuk and highlight the vitality of sumuk painters in Korea and Hong Kong.