By UN Journal Kayla Lee
“Welcome to the New Year (Byeoksachobok) Sehwa Exhibition,” a large-scale exhibition of folk paintings with traditional Korean values of bringing good luck and wishing for the beginning of the year and warding off bad luck, gets underway through Jan. 6, at the Korea Museum of Art, Insa-dong, Seoul.
The exhibition showcases the works of more than 100 folk painters from across the country and seven invited artists from the Korea Masters Association, and is attracting great response and interest.
The event was co-hosted by the monthly K Folk Paintings and the Diplomacy Journal, co-organized by the K Folk Painting Research Center and K Culture, and sponsored and cooperated with various institutions and organizations.
“This special exhibition was designed to publicize the colorful beauty and deep symbolism of Sehwa (New Year’s paintings), and to share the warm sentiments of traditional Korean folk paintings with many people at home and abroad. We hope that it will serve as an opportunity to revisit traditional values in a modern way and to spread Korean traditional culture to the world,” said Lee Jon-young, publisher of Monthly K Folk Paintings.
The opening performance was a demonstration by Jidoohwa (finger painting) artist Lee Jae-sam, who drew much praise for the beauty of using the human hand to fill the canvas.
Lee Mi-hyung, head of the K Folk Painting Research Center, who chairs the Sehwa Special Exhibition, said, “Sewhwa is more than just a painting, it is a cherished tradition that has been passed down from the Joseon Dynasty and has a magical meaning to pray for peace and prosperity in the new year.
“The symbolic materials in Sehwa convey beautiful messages that ward off evil spirits, invite good fortune, and bring peace to families and society,” she said, adding, ”We will promote the globalization and colorful beauty of folk paintings.”
Along with the exhibition, the 200th scholarship and master certificate was awarded to the 101-year-old Hyeokpil (leather brush) artist Nam Sang-joon, honoring his lifelong artistic spirit.
There were also awards such as the Master Artist Certificate and the Invited Artist Certificate. The exhibition also featured solo booth works by artists Lee Mi-hyung, Kim Mi-jung, Kim Sun-hee, Kim Young-joo, Oh Se-hee, Woo Hyun-jin, and Lee Yoon-jung, who were invited to participate in the Korea Masters Association's invitational solo exhibition.
Artist Kim Sun-hee's work, titled “The study of a court musician,” is a collaboration between Chaekgado (painting of books and scholars implements) and traditional musical instruments of Akhakgwebeom (Illustrated Text on Traditional Music).
Music comes from the sky and inhabits people, and it comes from the air and comes from nature, so it makes people feel and move, pump blood, and flow through the spirit. Like the preface of the Akhakgwebeom, the tones and sounds of our traditional instruments are fused with Chaekgado, which is a symbolic representation of the worship of learning and wishes for its fulfillment, and the exquisite harmony between painting and music has deeply moved many visitors.
On the occasion of the New Year 2025, the special exhibition of traditional folk paintings, titled “Welcome to the New Year (Byeoksachobok) Sehwa Exhibition,” is an exhibition that can be taken home with the energy to start the new year with peace and hope.
