“Exploring the Charm of Minhwa at the Peak of Hallyu”

The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA) hosted Minhwa: The Elegance of Korean Folk Paintings. The exhibition opened with a reception at the Korean Cultural Center’s Art Gallery (located at 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036) on Thursday, August 8, 2024.

This special Minhwa exhibition was the second in a series of traditional Korean art showcases designed to promote traditional Korean arts beyond popular culture. It aimed to highlight the value of Korean folk painting and share the spirit and beauty of traditional arts with audiences in Southern California.

The exhibition was particularly notable for featuring 45 works by artists from the Minhwa Department at Dongduk Women's University and the Korean Folk Art Association Los Angeles. These artists, led by Professor Song Chang Soo of Dongduk Women's University and Sung Kee Soon, President of the Korean Folk Art Association Los Angeles, utilized traditional themes to present both traditional and creative works imbued with unique Korean characters and humor. Professor Song was directly mentored by Great Master Song Kyu Tae, a pioneering figure in Korean Minhwa painting.

This exhibition was regarded as an opportunity to experience and promote Minhwa (Korean folk painting), which has recently emerged as a genre of contemporary art, to an international audience. Minhwa reflects the beauty and humor of our ancestors and serves as a self-portrait of the Korean people, showcasing its unique charm.

The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles plans to continue actively promoting Korea’s outstanding traditional culture and K-art to American society.