Chennai hosting exhibition of Korean folk paintings

CHENNAI: Folk art is always interesting as it gives an insight into the lives of ordinary people. And that’s why the ongoing exhibition at InKo Centre is well worth a visit.
‘Seeking New Directions: Korean Folk Painting’, organised by InKo Centre in association with K-art International Exchange Association and Korea Folk Painting Promotion Association, was inaugurated on July 20 and will be on till August 20.

The exhibition features the work of 11 Korean artists who express both traditional themes and contemporary recreations that reflect upon and resonate the heritage of Korean folk art.

Creativity, symbolism, decoration and humour are the trademark of Korean folk paintings. Drawn by common people since the end of the Joseon Dynasty, most of the artists are unidentified.

Although the artists were involved in the lives of ordinary people and expressed their social and community-based realities, folk painting was looked down upon as an expression of commoners with little knowledge or training in painting, writing or the fine arts.

However, the genre has stood the test of time and established itself as an important pillar of Korean art traditions. More recently, folk art has been classified as either traditional or contemporary, based on certain criteria -- while traditional folk artists reflect the lives, wishes and thoughts of their ancestors; contemporary folk artists recreate traditional folk themes by introducing modern sensibilities and newer artistic vocabularies.

The exhibition is from 10am to 6pm (except Sundays).