Kim hong do : Alive

This exhibition is [Kim hong do : Alive]. The main theme is re-birth media art of korean traditional painting which was famous in Joseon dynasty(The country before Republic of Korea). It placed in Yongsan, The war memorial of Korea. The exhibition hall is not so big because it is not a permanent exhibition. The exhibition consist of Kim hong do’s original paintings and media arts and divided with categories.

  

If someone is Korean student, that person would have seen Kim hong do in textbook. He can be called the greatest genius painter of the Joseon Dynasty. He drew Min sok do (the painting which drew ordinary people’s live), landscape painting, and painting of royal consciousness. This is what we usually know about Kim Hong Do. If there is no specific interest in him, people only know one or two representative paintings. The exhibition shows works which add imagination in original works but it is also an opportunity to learn more about Kim Hong-do as an artist.

  

In fact, it is hard to assign something to the new media art itself. It can be said that just turning a painting into a moving animation is all. However, this itself is meaningful. As far as I know, there is one more exhibition of this type. It's hard to compare in detail because I haven't been there myself. [Renoir : scent of lady] is another exhibition which is similar with this exhibition. These two exhibition have a common feature that replacing existing paintings with media art. The biggest advantage of these exhibitions is that existing works can also be reinterpreted. Those who are interested in original works and those who don't know anything will have new experiences. Some people think that oil paintings and Min sok do are boring. They have prejudice there are past one and be worth seeing in textbooks. And it is not easy for younger audiences to be interested. However, if these works are reborn with new technology(video, 3D, etc.) with new intentions, they will be more interesting to the audience. But interest should not be the only value in judging art. But interest can be the first step toward art. I think that is the ultimate goal of this exhibition. It is just to arouse the audience's interest in Kim hong do, in Min sok do and in media art.

  

I thought Korean people have far less interest in our own artistic culture than western or foreign artistic cultures. Because of western art trend is the main stream globally. I also had less interest in korean art. But by this exhibition, I found attractive point of our own painting.