To celebrate the opening of SongEun ArtSpace, the inaugural exhibition presents American Pop Art icon Tom Wesselmann: Form, Fantasy and the Nude. While the primary aim of this art space is to promote young contemporary Korean and international artists, we think it is equally important at times such as the launching of SongEun ArtSpace to also reflect upon the history and development of contemporary art.

The founder of SAMTAN Co., Ltd. and SongEun Art and Cultural Foundation Yoo, Sung Yeon had his own desires and hopes of becoming an artist at an early age. Due to the Korean War and unfavorable social and economic circumstances at that time, however, he was unable to pursue such ambitions. Interestingly, the young Tom Wesselmann, who had early dreams of becoming a cartoonist, served in the Korean War at the same time when Yoo, Sung Yeon was struggling with his own future. Unlike Yoo, Sung Yeon, Tom Wesselmann was able to pursue a career as an artist after returning home to the United States and ultimately became one of the most important and celebrated figures in the American Pop Art Movement.