Thirteenth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

South Korea has an extensive system of art museums, both public and private, that have played an important role in constructing and representing national identity. As South Korea grows increasingly globalised, its society is becoming more culturally diverse. Yet misconceptions and scant information about other cultures, particularly from Africa, preclude the acceptance of non-Korean populations within Korean society. This paper examines the African Museum of Original Art (AMOA) as a case study of worst practices in cultural representations that perpetuate negative stereotypes. I then present three examples of contemporary African art at other art institutions in Seoul that provide ‘contact zones’ for encountering cultural ‘otherness’ and analyse art as ‘imaginative engagement’ that can facilitate cultural awareness and understanding about Africa in Korean society. My discussion is situated within the context of the state-led ‘Global Korea’ initiatives, which attempt to overcome the country’s previous isolation by fostering greater multiculturalism at home and expanding overseas development assistance and business networks abroad. I argue that museums offer great potential for mitigating issues associated with multiculturalism in Korea, but only if representations of ‘otherness’ create space for dialogue rather than perpetuate stereotypes.