Korean Heritage Painting Exhibition, Pamphlet, 1967. MMCA Art Research Center Collection
National Documentary Painting refers to the historical paintings produced between 1967 and 1979 that were created with the intention to help educate people around the nation. The term was officially introduced in
The National Documentary Painting Exhibition. This exhibition was held at Gyeongbokgung Museum from July 12th, 1967 to September 31st as a part of a national award ceremony to celebrate the May 16th assumption of government by General Park Chung-hee’s Military Committee. Numerous artists from the Korean National Art Exhibition contributed to the production of 700 large-format works, painted in a realist manner, under the direction of the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Education. The modern history paintings were based on documentary photographs and fieldwork, while the pre-modern history paintings were based on historical research. Between 1967 and 1973 the documentary painting project primarily dealt with topics like anti-Japanese colonial resistance, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, all subjects selected to help engender patriotic anti-communist sentiment among viewers. Then, after 1973, the project was extended to cover pre-modern history, with a focus on encouraging the depiction of great military commanders in battle. In addition, artists were also encouraged to portray the economic accomplishments of the 1960s and 1970s, including the creation of the industrial complex, highway construction, and the New Community Movement (
Saemaeul undong).
* Source: Multilingual Glossary of Korean Art. Korea Arts Management Service
