Organized by the Korea Foundation, an exhibition of Minhwa (traditional Korean folk painting) opened at the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus in Minsk on March 7. The exhibition is organized under the theme of “Territory of Earthly Hopes: Korean Decorative Paintings from the 19th to Early 20th Century,” and will be open to the public until May 27. This represents the second such exhibition to be held in the region, following the successful exhibition held at the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow, Russia from February 2 through 25.

The National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus is the nation’s largest museum, with more than 30,000 artworks in its collection, and is the first Belarusian museum to host an exhibition of Korean Minhwa. As in Russia, the exhibition in Belarus features 26 screens and scrolls of Korean folk painting, including Hwajodo (flowers and birds), Eorakdo (swimming fish), Munjado (letters), Chaekgeori (books and scholarly articles), Sansudo (mountains and rivers), Gosainmuldo (legendary figures), Hojakdo (tigers and magpies), Sipjangsaengdo (the ten longevity symbols), and Byeoksajangsaengdo (symbols to ward off evil). In addition, visitors can enjoy a digitally animated Hwajodo with the help of AR (augmented reality) technology.

Announcing the arrival of the exhibition, an opening ceremony was held on March 7 with around 80 distinguished guests in attendance. They included Yuri Bondar, Culture Minister of the Republic of Belarus; Oksana Nekhaichik, Chairperson of the Korea-Belarus Parliamentary Friendship Association; Vladimir Prokoptsov, Director-General of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus; Kim Yong-ho, Korean Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus; Yoon Yul-soo, Director of Gahoe Minhwa Museum, Korea; Lee Young-ju, Korean professor currently teaching at Minsk State Linguistic University with support from the Korea Foundation; Elena Lyashkovich, Director of the Yanka Kupala State Literary Museum; Ambassadors from various countries including India, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan; professors of the Belarusian State University; and a number of journalists from five local broadcasting companies.

On March 9, Director Yoon Yul-soo of Gahoe Minhwa Museum delivered a lecture on Minhwa and introduced the rich cultural heritage of Korean folk painting to the close to 70 people of all ages in attendance. Focusing on the works on display, Director Yoon offered his analysis of the symbolism found in Minhwa, examining the use of flowers and birds, mountains and rivers, the longevity symbols, and tigers. The lecture was followed by hands-on programs where participants created Minhwa tigers and fish using the woodblock printing technique, and colored Minhwa designs with traditional Korean ink and paper.

Building upon Director Yoon’s address, Director Vladimir Prokoptsov of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus shared his thoughts on the exhibition, stating: “Dealing with various themes and abundant symbols, such as longevity, harmony and success, Korean Minhwa mirrors the Korean way of thinking, and contains Korean values and ideals… The exhibition will serve as an occasion for Belarusians to become familiar with Korean emotions and culture.”