Taiwanese Water and Korean Ink: Contemporary Ink Painting in Taiwan and Korea

Abstract

Contemporary art in Korea and Taiwan is influenced by two historical contexts: the acceptance of Western modernization and the progress of nationalism. These trends contradicted each other and thus brought about ideological conflicts in the art world of both countries. Under these circumstances, both art worlds realigned East Asian art practice in order to deviate from Japanese influences. Ink paintings of Taiwan and Korea have been influenced by the traditional discourse of both historically orthodox Chinese paintings, and East Asian nationalism in early modern times. Meanwhile, the consideration of “ink” and “painting” as separate and contradictory concepts was the result of a realignment of Oriental painting in the contemporary arts.