Asian Art Resource Room

Rana dictatorship ends, modern art begins to develop

As the 104 years of Rana dictatorship ends, King Mahendra propells the revival and conservation of traditional art as well as the development of contemporary art.

Great Korean Art Association Exhibition begins

Joseon Art Association is renamed the Great Korean Art Association and holds the 1st Great Korean Art Association Exhibition at Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul. Ko Huidong serves as chairman.

Anna Molka Ahmed works at the University of Punjab

In the 1950s, Anna Molka Ahmed works as the dean of the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Punjab in Lahore, where she organizes exhibitions and publishes catalogues.

Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts opens

The Indonesian Academy of Fine Arts (Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta)is established in Yogyakarta.

M. S. University is founded with art department

The Maharaja Sayajirao University is founded in Baroda (present-day Vadodara). The Faculty of Fine Arts is founded under N. S. Bendre and Sankho Chaudhuri.

Red Purge begins

Red Purge begins, and General MacArthur purges 24 members of the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party.

The Korean War erupts

The Korean War erupts (cease-fires in Jul. 27, 1953).

Hongik University establishes art department

Hongik University opens the Department of Fine Arts.

The Republic of Indonesia established

The Republic of Indonesia is established.

LEKRA established

LEKRA (Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat, Institute of People’s Culture) is established.

Magazine Xinyishu begins publication

The magazine Xinyishu (New Art) begins publication (ends in Feb. 1954) which pushes the new art movement under the chief editor, He Tiehua.

Philippine Art Gallery opens

The Philippine Art Gallery (PAG) which promotes the modern art movement, is established in Manila.

Chinese and North Korean forces occupy Seoul

Chinese and North Korean forces occupied Seoul, and many artists in North Korea moved to the south. The South Korean government moves its capital to Busan.

Joseon Artists Federation and Graphic Department

North Korea Art Federation is renamed Joseon Artists Federation and reorganizes its subcommittee with a new Graphic department.

The San Francisco Peace Treaty and Japan–U.S. Security Treaty signed

The San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Japan—U.S. Security Treaty are signed. As they come into effect in April of the following year, the General Headquarters is abolished, and the occupation by the Allied Forces ends, except for the Ryukyu Islands.

Government Institute of Arts established

The Department of Arts and Crafts in the Ceylon Technical College (founded in 1893) is separated from the main body and is upgraded as the Government Institute of Arts.

State School of Fine Arts opens

Burmese Ministry of Culture establishes the State School of Fine Arts in Rangoon and Mandalay.

Jehangir Art Gallery opens

Jehangir Art Gallery opens in Bombay (present-day Mumbai).

Shakir Ali teaches at Mayo School of Art

Shakir Ali begins teaching at Mayo School of Arts and works as a principal between 1961– 69.

Shanghai Art Museum opens

Shanghai Art Museum opens.

Singaporean painters travel and create in Indonesia

Liu Kang, Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, and Cheong Soo Pieng travel and create in Indonesia, with a month stay in Bali. In 1953 they held Pictures from Bali exhibition in Singapore which creates a great sensation.

The Language Movement for official use of Bengali

The Language Movement for official use of Bengali causes a large number of casualties. Murtaja Baseer creates a woodcut depicting this incident.

Laudatory Artist

The title of the Laudatory Artist is enacted by the decree of the North Korean Supreme People Assembly’s standing committee.

Government College of Art established

J.D.A. Perera, a member of the Ceylon Art Club, founds the Government College of Art in Colombo. Its curriculum includes drawing, painting, crafts, sculpture, music, and dance.

Cho Yangkyu solo exhibition in Japan

Korea-born painter, Cho Yangkyu, hold his solo exhibition at Gallery Takemiya, Tokyo (January 4–10).

Kingdom of Laos gains complete independence

The Kingdom of Laos becomes completely independent from France.

Kingdom of Cambodia gains complete independence

Kingdom of Cambodia becomes completely independent from France.

Lalit Kala Akademi established

Lalit Kala Akademi is established in Delhi.

National Gallery of Modern Art opens in New Delhi

National Gallery of Modern Art opens in New Delhi.

Battle of Dien Bien Phu

The French loses the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. To Ngoc Van dies in the battle.

First Indochina War ends, with north-south division

The First Indochina War ends with the withdrawal of the French troops. The Geneva Agreement temporarily separates Vietnam into two zones at the 17th Parallel under the promise of holding a general election after 2 years.

National College of Fine Arts established in Saigon

A painter Le Van De with the graduates of the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine founds the National College of Fine Arts in Saigon (present-day Ho Chi Minh).

Yin Hua Art Association established

The Yin Hua (Indonesia and China) Art Association is established by Chinese Indonesian artists.

Bandung Conference

The Bandung Conference (Asia-Africa Conference), held between April 18 and 24 issues the 10-point Declaration on Promotion of World Peace and Cooperation. The participating countries establish the Third World independently from Eastern and Western blocs on the principles of anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, and self-determination.

Exhibition of Japanese woodcuts

The Exhibition of Japanese Woodcuts is held (Jul. 29–Aug. 8 at the Exhibition Hall of Association of Chinese Artists, Beijing) by the Association of Chinese Artists.

Hanoi College of Fine Art opens

Hanoi College of Fine Art (present-day Hanoi University of Fine Arts) is established in the direction of Tran Van Can.

Republic of Vietnam established

The US-backed Republic of Vietnam is established in the south, with Ngo Dinh Diem as president.

National Museum opens in Rangoon

The National Museum opens in Rangoon (present-day Yangon).

Equator Art Society established

The Equator Art Society is founded (continues until 1972), with more than 800 members in its peak between 1958 and 59. The group is divided into art, literature, and music departments and propels social realism.

Royal Nepal Academy founded

The King Mahendra founds the Royal Nepal Academy for promoting art, literature, and music.

Sadequain’s mural

Sadequain creates a mural at Karachi Airport.

Nhan Van-Giai Pham Incident

Nhan Van-Giai Pham Incident occurs. Intellectuals and artists who publish the works that embraces the individual freedom against the guidance by the Communist Party on periodicals such as Nhan Van (Humanities) and Giai Pham (Masterpieces), suffer being arrested, sent to the forced labor or re-education, and deprived of their position at work. Nhan Van is banned in December, which prevents the painter Bui Xuan Phai from exhibiting his works.

Joseon misul (Korean fine arts) begins publication

Joseon Artists Federation begins publication of Joseon misul [Korean fine arts]. Soviet style socialism realism is re-examined. It discontinues Nov. 17, 1967.

The 1st Southeast Asia Art Competition with an exhibition

The 1st Southeast Asia Art Competition is held by the Art Association of the Philippines. The conference is held from Apr. 27 to 30 at the Philippine Women’s University, and the exhibition from Apr. 27 to May 12 at the Northern Motors Showroom.

Fifth Moon Group established

The graduates of the Art Departments in the Normal College form the Fifth Moon Group”with Liao Chichun as their spiritual leader, and hold The First Fifth Moon Group Exhibition at Zhongshan Hall, Taipei.

Hyundae Fine Artists Association established

Kim Chang-yeul, Ha Indoo, and other artists found the Hyundae (modern) Fine Artists Association and holds their first exhibition from May 1 to 5 at the gallery of United State Information Service, Seoul. They exhibit works influenced by Informel and Abstract Expressionism.

The Federation of Malaya becomes independent

The Federation of Malaya becomes independent as a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The First Tong Fan Exhibition

The First Tong Fan (Eastern) Exhibition is held at the Taipei Newspaper Tower by the artists who studied at the Li Zhongsheng’s studio. Works by Spanish artists are also exhibited.

The 1st Young Asian Artists Exhibition

The 1st Young Asian Artists Exhibition is held from November 12 to 17 at the Shibuya Toyoko, Tokyo, by the Japan Cultural Forum. The Fleischmann Prize is given to V. S. Gaitonde and Huang Leisheng and the Stralem Prize to Ramachandra V. Savant, But Mochatar, and Mohammed Kibria.

The first Lao art school opens

The Lao School of Fine Arts is established as the first art school in Laos.

Mayo School of Arts becomes a national college

Mayo School of Arts is upgraded to the National College of Arts. The miniature painting is registered in the curriculum.

The Contemporary Philippine Art Exhibition in Japan

The Contemporary Philippine Art Exhibition is held (Mar. 25–Apr. 3 at Bridgestone Museum of Art, Tokyo). The exhibition is organized by the Art Association of the Philippines and Philippine Embassy with the support from the Mainichi Newspapers, the Philippine Society of Japan, and Bridgestone Museum of Art. The exhibition tours to Osaka (Apr 8–13 at Hankyu Department Store).

National Art Gallery opens in Kuala Lumpur

Tunku Abdul Rahman opens the National Art Gallery, which is moved to the present location in 1984.

Propaganda picture of Chollima

Kwak Heungmo’s Did you comrade ride the Chollima?, a well-known propaganda picture for economic development, appears in Rodong Shinmun (Labor Newspaper).

Ayub Khan seizes power in a coup

Ayub Khan, the army general, seizes power in a coup and becomes the second president.

Informel-style works receive attention

The 4th Hyundae Fine Artists Association Exhibition is held (Nov. 28–Dec. 8 at Toksugung Museum, Seoul), and the Informel-style works by Park Seobo and others receive attention.

Mohammad Kibria studies in Japan

Mohammad Kibria, Bangladeshi painter, studies at Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music (until 1962).

Bandung Institute of Technology

Bandung School of Art Education is renamed to Bandung Institute of Technology (Institut Teknologi Bandung [ITB]).

The Cultural Festival of LEKRA

The Cultural Festival of LEKRA is held in the Sriwedari Park, Solo, and President Sukarno attends. This large event includes music, dance, theatrical performances, painting and sculpture exhibitions, and displays of posters, traditional costumes, and musical instruments.

The first general election

The first general election is enacted. The People’s Action Party achieves a landslide victory, and Lee Kuan Yew becomes the first prime minister.

Basuki Abdullah solo show in Japan

Basuki Abdullah Oil Painting Exhibition Basuki Abdullah Oil Painting Exhibition is held (Jun. 15–20 at the Mitsubishi Corporation Building, Tokyo) by the Japan Indonesia Association and Asia Culture Club.

Mansudae Art Studio

Mansudae Art Studio is inaugurated. Its land is 12,000 square meters and the building is 7,6000 square meters.

April Revolution

Lee Seungman’s regime collapses due to student demonstrations against the election fraud (The April Revolution).

Anti-Anpo Struggle

The Anti-Anpo Struggle, a series of protests against the Japan–US Security Treaty, spread throughout the nation.

Demonstrations against the National Exhibition

Kim Daewoo, Kim Myungro, Kim Bongtae, and Kim Jonghak from the 1960 Artists Association hold the outdoor exhibition of Informel works along the wll of Deoksugun, as a demonstration against the National Exhibition. Students of Seoul National Universty also holds Byeok (wall) Art Exhibition at Jeondong Hill.

Second Indochina War begins

The National Liberation Front is formed, and the Second Indochina War (Vietnam War) begins.

Exhibition of Indonesian art in China

Indonesia Art Exhibition is organized by China International Publishing Group at the Beijing Working People’s Cultural Palace. Suromo, Li Hua, and Gu Yuan attend the opening ceremony. The exhibition tours to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

Group Bumi Tarung established

Amrus Natalsya co-founds the group Bumi Tarung in Yogyakarta, Suhardija Pudjanadi, Kusmuljo, and Ngajarbana Sembiring participate in the group.

Contemporary art gallery by Zubeida Agha

Zubeida Agha openes the contemporary art gallery in Rawalpindi which lasts for 16 years.

Southeast Asian Association established

The Federation of Malaya (present-day Malaysia), the Philippines, and Thailand form the Southeast Asian Association (ASA), a predecessor of ASEAN.

Chollima Statue completed.

Chollima Statue is completed. Involving tens of artists, it represents a typical “collaborative creation.”

Park Chunghee seizes the power

Park Chunghee seizes the power through a coup and becomes a president on September 30.

People’s Artist

The title of the People’s Artist is enacted by the decree of the North Korean Supreme People Assembly’s standing committee. It is deemed as the highest honor of artists in North Korea.

The first modern art show

Lain Singh Bandel Solo Exhibition is held at Saraswati Sadan, Kathmandu, which marks the first modern art exhibition in Nepal.

The military regime begins

Supreme commander Ne Win conducts a coup against Prime Minister U Nu, which marks the beginning of the military regime. Under the ideology of Burmese Way to Socialism, students’ movements becomes illegal.

Widayat solo exhibition in Japan

Fine Art, Graphics, and Ceramics by Widayat is held from April 21 to 26 at Isetan Gallery, Tokyo. Widayat is an Indonesian painter who stayed in Japan between 1960 and 1962.

Sino-Indian War erupts

The Sino-Indian War erupts (continues until Nov 22).

Group 1890 established

The Group 1890 led by J. Swaminathan proposes the needs of art practices rooted in India. The members include Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Jeram Patel, and Jyoti Bhatt.

Modern Art Society established

Artists influenced by American Abstract Expressionism including Ho Ho Ying form Modern Art Society (MAS) and hold the first exhibition.

Punto Exhibition with Italian, Taiwanese, and Japanese artists

Punto International Art Movement Exhibition is held at the National Taiwan Arts Education Center, Taipei, and Italian artist Lucio Fontana, Castellani, and A. Calderara, as well as Xiao Qin, Li Yuanjia, and Azuma Kenjiro participate.

Indonesia opposes to the Federation of Malaysia

Violent confrontation occurs as Indonesia opposes to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.

Federation of Malaysia is formed

Federation of Malaysia is formed following the merger of the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and Sabah.

GANEFO cultural festival visited by Japanese artists

The Culture Festival of the Games of the New Emerging Forces is held (GANEFO, Nov 10–13). Cultural representatives, including Nihon Bijutsu-kai (Japan Art Association), are sent to Indonesia. Art section members include Matsuya Tsutomu, Takidaira Jiro, and Shibuya Sozaburo.

Exhibition of prints by Japanese artists

Japanese Prints Exhibition (Pemeran seni grafik Djepang) is held (Nov 28–Dec 4 at Balai Budaya Gallery, Jakarta).

Race riots of Malay and Chinese communities

The race riots between Malay and Chinese people takes place (continues until the 24th), causing 22 death.

Tokyo Olympic

The 18th Olympic Games (Tokyo Olympic) is held between October 10 and 24.

Nepal Association of Fine Art established

The King Birendra founds the Nepal Association of Fine Art (NAFA), with the king as a chairman in 1977.

Exhibition of photography in anti-salon style

2-Men Contemporary Photography is held at the Rose Marie Gallery in Taipei. It is an exhibition by Chang Chaotang and Zheng Sangxi. Chang exhibits surrealistic works, such as a man without a head or with a mask in the landscape.

Appliqué works on Socialism

In the mid-1960s, The state commissions artists to create appliqué works on the theme of Socialism.

Journal Theater begins publication and introduces international progresive cultures

Qiu Gangjian, Zhuang Ling, and Li Zhishan found the journal Theater (continues until Jan 1, 1968, issue). A group of artists, photographers, and filmmakers dissatisfied with healthy realism and abstract paintings introduce foreign film, theater, and performance.

U.S. begins bombing in North Vietnam

The U.S. troops begins bombing North Vietnam and land on Danang on the 8th.

The first exhibition of Asian contemporary art by Cathay

An international art exhibition Contemporary Art in Asia is held by the Cathay Pacific Airways. The exhibition starts in Singapore (Apr. 8–?), and tours to Kuala Lumpur (Apr. 22–25 at the at A.I.A Bldg.), Tokyo (Jul 16–28, at the Keio Department Store, Shinjuku), Fukuoka (Aug. 2–8 at the Shoken Bldg., Tenjin), Osaka (Aug. 13–18 at Sogo Department Store Gallery, Shinsaibashi), Taipei, Bangkok, Jesselton (present-day Kota Kinabalu), Manila, Seoul, Hong Kong, Calcutta (present-day Kolkata).

Japan–Korea Treaty

The Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea is signed, causing students’ protests in both countries.

The Indo-Pakistani War

The Indo-Pakistani War (the Second Kashmir War) breaks out and continued until Sep. 23.

Singapore becomes independent

The Republic of Singapore leaves the Federation of Malaysia, becoming an independent nation.

30 September Movement followed by anti-communist massacre

The attempted military coup fails and Suharto gained the power (the 30 September Movement). An outbreak of anti-communist purge causes more than 500,000 deaths. LEKRA is banned and dissolved. Intellectual members of LEKRA are arrested, tortured, imprisoned, and killed.

Marcos becomes president

Ferdinand Marcos becomes president (until Feb 25, 1986).

National Museum of Fine Arts opens in Hanoi

The National Museum of Fine Arts opens in Hanoi.

National Gallery opens

National Gallery (present-day Fine Arts Zanabazar Museum) opens in Ulaanbaatar.

Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister

Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister (until Mar 24, 1977).

Theater holds the first screening of experimental films

Theater holds the first film screening at Taipei Education Center. Both the first and the second (Jul 29, 1967) introduced experimental films by young armature filmmakers, such as Zhuang Ling, Chang Chaotang, and Huang Huacheng.

Suharto’s “New Order” begins

Sukarno transfers his presidential powers to Suharto, and Suharto’s “New Order” begins in operation.

Cultural Revolution beging

The Cultural Revolution beging. Many artists and intellectuals are persecuted, and cultural heritage pieces are destroyed.

Exhibition of woodcuts by Singaporean artists

The Woodcuts Exhibition by Six Artists is held from Oct. 14 to 18 at the National Library Lecture Hall.

Magazine Space begins publication

Architect Kim Soogeun begins publicaiton of Space, a magazine for architecture and art.

MARA University of Technology establishes art department

MARA University of Technology opens the Department of Art and Design.

Malaysian Institute of Art established

Malaysian Institute of Art is founded

Tantra art noticed

Ajit Mookerjee’s Tantra Art is published. Around the same time, Neo-Tantric art emerges by artists such as G. R. Santosh and Biren De.

ASEAN established

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is established with the participation of Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Joint exhibition of avant-garde art groups, the first performance art conducted

Joint Exhibition of Young Artist Groups is held (Dec. 11–16 at the Central Information Hall, Seoul). It is a joint exhibition by three artists’ groups, Mu (nothing) Group, Origin Fine Arts Association, and Sinjeon (new exhibition) Group. On the 14th, the first art performance Happening) in Korea, Happening with Vynil Umbrella and Candles, is conducted using Choi Boonghyun’s installation work and the script by Oh Gwangsu. The artists also demonstrated to demand the reform of the government’s art policy.

The first exhibition of abstract paintings supressed

Abstract paintings are exhibited for the first time at an exhibition of young artists by the Union of Mongolian Artists, including G. Soosoi, O. Tsevegjav, and P. Baldandorj. The exhibition is immediately shut down by the People’s Revolutionary Party, and the Union leaders are summoned by the party to explain the exhibition of “Capitalist Art.”

Kuala Lumpur College of Art

Kuala Lumpur College of Art is founded.

Tet attacks

In southern Vietnam, liberation forces launch a Tet (Lunar New Year) attacks, which overwhelms the US forces at one point. Difficulties in the US finance and international opinions leads the US military to withdraw.

Triennale-India begins

The 1st Triennale-India is held from February 11 to March 31 at Lalit Kala Akademi, Delhi.

Exhibiton of Korean paintings in Japanese national museums

Contemporary Korean Painting Exhibition is held from July 19 to September 1 at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo.

University of Chittagong establishes art department

Department of Art is founded in the University of Chittagong.

New Scene Exhibition

The New Scene Exhibition held at the Galeri 11, Kuala Lumpur, introduces the hard-edge abstract painting and conceptual art.

Lee Ufan’s essay published. Mono-ha appears

Lee Ufan’s From Object to Being is awarded Bijutsu Shuppansha Art Criticism published in Bijutsu techo. The tendencies of Mono-ha begin appearing.

Sino-Malay sectarian violence

Sino-Malay sectarian violence takes place (13 May Incident), causing 196 deaths.

The first experimental film screened

At an experimental film screening at the Academy Music Hall, Seoul, organized by Kim Kulim and others, his Meaning of 1/24 Second is screened, but suspended with a technical problem and another work is screened.

Exhibition of Korean art in the Philippines

Contemporary Korean Art Exhibition is held at Solidaridad Gallery, Manila.

Cultural Center of the Philippines opens

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) opens in Manila. David Medalla and other artists conduct political demonstrations during the opening ceremony.

Reality group stablished, pioneer of People’s Art

Hyunsil Dong-in (Reality Group) is formed. Their First Manifesto of the Reality Group is written by Kim Jiha and circulated by Oh Yoon, Im Setaek, Oh Gyeonghwan, and Kang Myeonghee, and proofread by art critic Kim Yunsu. The group is one of the origins of Minjung Misul (People’s Art).

National Museum of Contemporary Art opens in Seoul

National Museum of Contemporary Art opens.