Abstract

The paper questions issues of nationality, citizenship, ethnicity, and recognition of artistic merits within art competitions and art contests in the age of global migration and transnationalism. Several competition programs by national museums and cultural foundations to honor “Korean” artists are built upon an ambiguous concept of ethnicity, race, and citizenship. The question of nationality, citizenship, ethnicity, and recognition of artistic merits is not only pertinent to Korean artists in the global arena but also relevant to increasingly multicultural society within Korea. While many citizens chose or were forced to live overseas, South Korea has also experienced naturalized citizens among non-Korean ethnic groups. For both cases, common immigrant experiences such as the process of assimilation to or from Korea, absorption, schooling, or re-education of customs in the country of residence have become central to the life stories of the artists. More artists express locational identity and ethnic hybridity in relation to an imagined homeland whether they are based in Korea or working overseas. Traditional art competitions based on ethnonationalism or homogeneous national identity of the nineteenth century should be reshaped and revised to address equity and inclusion. The paper seeks for policy changes from Korean art organizations and institutions and asks whether they are willing to collect and honor works by non-Korean artists or multiethnic Korean artists.