Marc Chagall Exhibition comes again to Seoul in 7 Years

 A Marc Chagall Exhibition Returns to Seoul After 7 Years

A special exhibition of Marc Chagall(1887-1985), known as the "magician of color," is returning to Seoul for the first time in seven years. Chagall, who left a lasting mark on Western art history, is known not only for his artistic value but also for the staggering prices his works command—though it's almost silly to evaluate art by price alone. Some of his paintings have sold at auction for tens of millions of dollars.

Given those high prices, controversies over forgeries are not uncommon. One American collector who purchased a Chagall piece for over $100,000 through Sotheby’s later claimed the work was a fake. A Taiwanese collector also learned that a painting they bought for $50,000 turned out to be inauthentic. One might say that any Chagall work trading for around $50,000 should already raise suspicion.

To address such issues, Chagall’s grandchildren now operate the "Comité Marc Chagall," an official committee that authenticates works. In some cases, they’ve even obtained court orders to have forgeries destroyed.

But to get caught up in the monetary value of Chagall’s art is to miss the point. When approached from an artistic perspective, Chagall’s work is defined by its bold style, romantic themes, and dreamlike use of color. His recurring motifs of weddings and celebrations express his worldview centered on love and fantasy. One of Chagall’s most memorable quotes was:

“True art is found in love.”
This statement makes clear the thematic heart of his work.

Chagall, a Russian-born Jew, lived through an era when Jewish communities faced persecution under the Nazis. Though he eventually naturalized as a French citizen, France—and even the French language—remained foreign to him. Personally, I used to assume he was French because of the red, blue, and white color palette that dominates his paintings, which echo the colors of the French flag. But in truth, he was always an outsider in France.

Even though he designed churches and museums in the French city of Nice, his life in France was not peaceful. He was once listed among those targeted for assassination by Hitler and eventually fled France for the United States.

Though his art often centered on themes of love and relationships, Chagall also endured personal tragedy, including the death of his wife from an infectious disease. Despite these hardships, he continued painting until the age of 88. One of his later works, "Bouquet of Red Flowers and Lovers" (1975), is part of the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s collection.

Chagall’s works are imbued with a unique aura. That singularity makes him difficult to categorize:

• Too painterly and structured to be considered Cubist,

• Too gentle to be labeled Fauvist,

• And far too imaginative—even beyond subjectivity—to be grouped with the Impressionists.

  

  Les amoureux aux bouquets rouges(1975)

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Marc Chagall Comes to Seoul – May 23 2025

The exhibition, titled “Marc Chagall: Beyond Time,” will open on May 23 at Hangaram Art Museum in Seoul Arts Center (Seocho-gu, Seoul). Particularly noteworthy is the inclusion of seven never-before-seen original works, a rare treat for any art lover.

Art has the power to draw people in with a single new painting—but here we have seven.
In total, over 170 pieces will be on display, making this a landmark event for art in Seoul.

🎟 Admission:

• Adults: 25,000 KRW

• Children, Youth (under 18): 18,000 KRW

• Infants under 36 months: Free

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