Many are bracing themselves for what is expected to be the worst economic year in 10 years. Need some wisdom to get through it? Perhaps it is time to look back on how some Koreans held up during their darkest times in the nation's history.
When the Japanese invaded, Korean artists found peace and hope through painting and calligraphy. Some of the most beautiful works of the Joseon Dynasty were created during that period.
"Korean Modern Paintings and Calligraphies" at Hakgojae Gallery in Sogyeok-dong displays 120 pieces by 37 Korean artists of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Most of the works will go on display to the public for the first time.
"Research on art during that period was long neglected by Koreans, perhaps because they didn't want to bring back such tragic memories," said Woo Chankyu, president of Hakgojae Gallery, at a press conference last Monday.
"But now is the right moment to focus on them. Since these are flowers that blossomed during such a hard time, we, who are also going through a hard time, should contemplate them and perhaps find some hope through them."
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Naturally, most of the exhibits were found in Japan. Woo went in and out of Japan for 10 years to collect them.
The 30 pieces provided by Yu Hyun-jae, a Japanese collector of Korean paintings and calligraphies of the period, include several by Lee Ha-eung. Lee was better known as Daewongun, the father of King Gojong. These works will be on display for the first time at this exhibition.
Another reason that art from this period has not been popular was that most of the artists were pro-Japanese. In this exhibition, pieces by both pro-Japanese artists and anti-Japanese artists are shown.
It is easy to spot which works are by pro-Japanese artists like Kim Eun-ho, as they were greatly influenced by the Japanese way of painting.
Also on display are pieces by Oh Se-chang, who was one of the 33 people who led a nationwide independence movement against Japanese colonial rule on March 1, 1919, and Yun Yong-ku, who refused all Japanese government official posts or titles.
The exhibition also shows how the artists who spent a long time in Japan because they were exiled there, such as Kim Ok-gyun, tended to show more Korean styles of work.
"They must have tried to keep 'Joseon' in their hearts without leaning towards Japan, even though they had to live there," explained a curator.
The current exhibition runs through Jan. 24 at Hakgojae Gallery in central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 720-1524 or visit www.hakgojae.com
By Park Min-young
(claire@heraldm.com)
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