K-Beauty's Ancient Roots and Modern Paradoxes at Musée Guimet

The Musée Guimet in Paris presents "K-Beauty. Beauté coréenne, histoire d’un phénomène," an exhibition exploring the global K-Beauty phenomenon through its deep roots in Korean visual culture. The show traces a lineage from Joseon-era silk scrolls (1392-1910) and celadon porcelains to contemporary cosmetics packaging, K-dramas, and fashion. Curated by Claire Bettinelli and Claire Trinquet-Soléry, the exhibition highlights the fluid exchange between traditional aesthetics and modern pop culture. Key historical figures include court painter Kim Hong-do and Shin Yun-bok (c. 1758-1813), whose "Miindo" ideal of beauty inspired designer Lee Young-hee (1936-2018) to create contemporary hanbok. Lee donated a collection of ancient textiles to the museum in 2019. The show also features erotic portraits by photographer Kim Jung-man (1954-2022) and a Chanel dress from the 2015-2016 Cruise collection shown in Seoul. However, the exhibition does not shy away from the dark side: South Korea has one of the highest rates of plastic surgery, promoting a homogenized, youthful ideal. Artist Yuni Kim Lang (b. 1986) critiques this with her series "Woven Identity I" (2013). The exhibition runs until July 6, 2026.