KOREA FOUNDATION

The KF will present an exhibition of Korean minhwa paintings at the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow, Russia on February 2–25. The exhibit will be titled Territory of Earthly Hopes: Korean Decorative Paintings from the 19th to Early 20th Century. Minhwa previously enjoyed considerable popularity in Korea from the nineteenth century through to the early twentieth century, and today the art form is experiencing a renaissance in popularity, both domestically and abroad. The indigenous paintings vividly show the thoughts, lives, values, and hopes of grassroots Koreans, displaying unique structural beauty, creativity, and sense of color.
  The exhibit will consist of six groups of paintings, themed “Happiness and Love,” “The King of Flowers,” “The Confucian Utopia,” “The Land of Taoist Saints,” “The Supernatural Tiger,” and “Affluence and Good Luck.” Prepared as a joint project between the KF, the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow, and Gahoe Minhwa Museum in Seoul, the show will provide Russian visitors with a comprehensive introduction to the characteristics and beauty of Korean fine art. It is hoped the event will contribute to making the Korean cultural tradition more accessible to Russian and international art lovers alike.