Lee Daiwon: There Is Nothing to Make You Sad at MMCA Deoksugung

At MMCA Deoksugung, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea presents Lee Daiwon: There Is Nothing to Make You Sad, reflecting on the seven-decade artistic journey of master Korean painter Lee Daiwon (1921–2005). Spanning early works from the 1930s to monumental late canvases, the exhibition illuminates a vibrant career that helped define modern Korean painting.

As the first major posthumous retrospective dedicated to the artist, this comprehensive survey spans all four exhibition galleries (Halls 1–4) inside Deoksugung Palace. The presentation brings together over 120 oil paintings, more than 100 archival documents, and pieces from the artist’s personal collection of antique art.

Lee Daiwon: There Is Nothing to Make You Sad Visitor Information

• Exhibition Title: Lee Daiwon: There Is Nothing to Make You Sad (이대원 : 당신을 슬프게 하는 것은 하나도 없다)
• Exhibition Period: August 6, 2026 – November 8, 2026
• Venue: National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Deoksugung (Exhibition Halls 1–4)
• Address: Deoksugung Palace, 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• Opening Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Wednesday, Saturday 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Last admission 1 hour before closing)
• Closed Days: Closed every Monday and January 1
• Admission: 2,000 KRW (Separate Deoksugung Palace admission fee of 1,000 KRW required)
• Participating Artist: Lee Daiwon

First Major Retrospective Illuminating 70 Years of Artistry

The exhibition title draws from a memorable critique by prominent art historian Kim Won-ryong, who observed that Lee Daiwon’s paintings radiate unreserved joy and an unwavering affirmation of life. Through radiant, luminous colors and rapid, pointillist brushwork, the works convey a uniquely uplifting pictorial realm.

Born in 1921 and active until his passing in 2005, Lee Daiwon carved out an idiosyncratic path within modern Korean art history. A graduate of the Faculty of Law at Keijo Imperial University, he later served as president of Hongik University and directed a leading commercial art gallery, leaving a multifaceted legacy across the Korean art world. This exhibition meticulously retraces the artist’s full seventy-year creative evolution.

Key Highlights to Discover at the Exhibition

Vitality of the Monumental Orchard Series

The centerpiece of the exhibition is Lee’s celebrated Orchard (농원) series, where intense primary colors and pulsating brushstrokes capture the vibrant light of nature. Standing before these large canvases, viewers can observe ripples of colored light radiating across the composition.

Harmonizing Traditional Aesthetics with Western Oil Painting

Visitors can also examine Lee’s distinctive compositional methods, which reinterpreted the brilliant palettes of traditional Korean embroidery and mother-of-pearl lacquerware alongside the rhythmic calligraphic strokes of East Asian ink painting. Translating these traditional sensory aesthetics into the medium of Western oil painting produced a singular visual language.

Paintings, Archival Documents, and Antique Art Collections

Occupying all four exhibition halls across Deoksugung, the retrospective pairs 120 oil paintings with roughly 100 historical documents and curated antique works. This comprehensive display captures Lee’s layered footprint not only as a prolific painter, but also as an educator and gallery pioneer in modern Korean art history.

Practical Visitor Guidelines Before You Go

Because MMCA Deoksugung is situated within the historic grounds of Deoksugung Palace, visitors must pay a separate palace admission fee of 1,000 KRW in addition to the 2,000 KRW exhibition ticket. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, evening gallery viewing is extended until 9:00 PM. The museum is closed every Monday and on New Year’s Day (January 1), with final entry admitted one hour before closing time.

To explore more modern and contemporary Korean art exhibitions covered on this site, read our guides to Lee Kang So: Emergence and Dissolution and A Heart for Sharing Beauty: Newly Donated Artifacts 2.

Official Announcements and Source Information

Detailed schedules and visitor notices are available on the official MMCA website.