Gyeongju Solgeo Museum <2026 Contemporary Art Special Exhibition> Featuring Regional Representative Minhwa Artist Kwon Jung-soon

The Gyeongju Solgeo Museum under the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Corporation (President Kim Nam-il) is hosting a special exhibition featuring artist Kwon Jung-soon as part of its <2026 Contemporary Art Special Exhibition> series, running from October 3 to March 7 of next year.

The is designed to share contemporary artists and their artistic worlds with provincial residents who live in the same era.

This exhibition turns the spotlight on minhwa (traditional Korean folk painting), a vital pillar of traditional Korean painting. Minhwa is an art form that captures the lives, aspirations, and emotions of common people through approachable and humorous expressions. Today, it continues to expand its boundaries by adding diverse interpretations and expressions based on traditional forms and motifs.

The exhibition introduces artist Kwon Jung-soon's artistic world, focusing on three major subjects among various minhwa motifs: chaekgado (folding screen of books and scholars' paraphernelia), eohado (paintings of fish and crabs), and hwajodo (paintings of flowers and birds). Chaekgado embodies our ancestors' passionate desire for scholarship and knowledge, eohado conveys the yearning for freedom and career success, and hwajodo reflects the warm emotions of common people wishing for peace and happiness.

As a leading regional minhwa artist, Kwon Jung-soon has dedicated a long period to studying minhwa and continuing her creative activities, playing a pivotal role in promoting minhwa and expanding its base in the Yeongnam region. While faithfully inheriting the motifs and symbolism of traditional minhwa, she adds her own unique plastic interpretations to consistently showcase the beauty and value of minhwa.

Artist Kwon remarked, "Minhwa is a painting that requires no explanation; it is a work that is not difficult and can be understood by anyone through the heart. I hope visitors will naturally experience the stories and emotions of our lives embedded in minhwa through this exhibition."

Kim Nam-il, President of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Corporation, stated, "Minhwa is a precious cultural and artistic asset that has long accompanied the lives of our common people, capturing their hopes and emotions. We hope this exhibition will allow visitors to explore the symbolism and meanings contained in chaekgado, eohado, and hwajodo, and rediscover the beauty and value of our traditional minhwa, which represents K-Art."