Special Exhibition of Modern Korean Painting
* Source: MMCA
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Choi Soonwoo
Choi Soonwoo (1916-1984, pen name Hyegok) was an art historian who served as the fourth director of the National Museum. After graduating from Songdo High School in Kaesong in 1936, he worked as a clerk in the Archaeology Department of the Gaepung County Office and studied art history by exploring historical sites with Ko Yuseop. He began working at the Kaesong Provincial Museum in 1946 and was transferred to the National Museum in 1949. When the Korean War broke out, he was tasked with transporting the National Museum’s collection to Busan. He met Jeon Hyeong-pil (pen name: Kansong) when he covered up an attempt to relocate Jeon’s Bohwagak collection in Seongbuk-dong to North Korea, and the two became close friends. Both his pen name “Soonwoo” and his pen name “Hyegok” were given by Jeon Hyeong-pil. Choi later served as the supply department head, curator, and director of the National Museum, leading research and exhibitions on Korean cultural heritage. From the late 1950s, he was in charge of Masterpieces of Korean Art, a traveling exhibition that toured the U.S. and Europe (1957–1959) and curated 2,000 Years of Korean Arts (1973) and 5,000 Years of Korean Art (in Japan in 1976, the U.S. from 1979 to 1981, and in Europe in 1984) to promote abroad the excellence of Korean culture. He was also interested in contemporary art and interacted with contemporary artists, including Kim Whanki, Kim Swoogeun, Chang Ucchin, Kim Kichang, and others. In 1956, he established Art Critics Association along with Kim Youngjoo, Lee Kyungsung, Kim Chung-up, Han Mook, and Chung Kyu. He lectured at Hongik University and Ewha Womans University and in 1981 received an honorary degree of Doctor of Literature from Hongik University. He served as the first president (1965–1966) of the Korean Art Critics Association (Hanguk misul pyeongnonga hyeophoe), a member of the Cultural Heritage Commission, and president of the Art History Association of Korea. Focusing on research on the history of Korean crafts and Korean painting, Choi wrote several publications, including Hoehwa (Painting, 1973), Mokchil gongye (Wood lacquering crafts, 1974), Goryeo doja (Goryeo ceramics, 1975), Hanguk hoehwa (Korean painting 1-3, 1975), Hanguk hoehwa (Korean painting 1-3, 1982), Hanguk cheongja doyoji (Kilns of Korean celadon, 1982), Cheongja – Togi (Celadon and earthenware, 1983). His posthumous works include Choesunu jeonjip (Collected works by Choi Soonwoo, 1996), Muryangsujeon baeheullim gidunge gidaeseoseo (Leaning against an entasis column of Muryangsujeon hall, 1994), and Naneun naegeosi areumdapda (I think mine is beautiful, 2002).
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Lee Bongsang
Lee Bongsang (1916-1970, pen name Seokjeong) graduated from the Training Department at Gyeongseong Normal School in 1937. Self-taught in painting, Lee received his first honorable mention at the eighth Joseon Art Exhibition [Joseon misul jeollamhoe] in 1929 at the age of thirteen. He went on to receive honorable mentions and win special prizes, coming to prominence as a painter. He later moved to Japan and during his stay there his work was selected for the Ministry of Education Art Exhibition [Monbusho bijutsu tenrankai]. In 1942, together with Japanese artists active in Seoul, he founded the artist group named Changnyongsa. After Korea’s liberation from Japan, Lee participated in the founding of several artists’ groups, such as the 1950 Art Association, Gijojeon, Sinsanghoe, and Gusanghoe. He was also at the forefront of fostering later generations through the compilation of textbooks and criticism. His early works reflected impressionist realism. In the 1950s, however, he turned to a painting style characterized by bold compositions, bright colors, and a rough brushwork, which he developed through his association with Kim Whanki, Yoo Youngkuk, Kim Byungki, and Park Kosuk. From 1953 he worked as a professor at Hongik University, and from the year 1954 he was invited to participate in the National Art Exhibition (Gukjeon) as a recommended artist, invited artist, and judge.
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National Museum
The National Museum was established by the Korean government in 1945 after Independence. It consists of a general museum and a special museum. The National Museum of Korea as a general museum took over the Museum of the Japanese Government-General of Korea and opened at Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1945. It annexed the Gyeongju, Buyeo, Gongju, and Kaesong museums. It also annexed Song Seokha’s National Museum of Anthropology and accepted the collection of Deoksugung Museum of Art (former Yi Royal Family Museum) in 1969. The museum was called “National Museum” from 1945 to 1972, and the “National Museum, of Korea” after the reorganization in 1972. Meanwhile, local annex museums were upgraded to local national museums, such as Gyeongju National Museum and Buyeo National Museum. Since Independence, national museums have been constructed in many local cities, including Gyeongju, Buyeo, Gongju, Gwangju, Jinju, Cheongju, Jeonju, Daegu, Gimhae, Jeju, Chuncheon, Naju, and Iksan. These museums play pivotal roles in maintaining local histories and cultures. Special museums within the National Museum of Korea include the National Palace Museum (the history and culture of the Joseon Dynasty), the Maritime Museum (maritime culture), the Forest Museum, the Diplomatic Museum, the Police Museum, the Custom Museum, the Lighthouse Museum, the Postal Museum, and the Museum of Korean Traditional Music.
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