Gwangju Bank Awards the 5th 'Gwangju Hwaru Contest'

Writer Lee Seong-gyeong as the Subject

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Bank (President Song Jongwook) announced on the 28th that it held the award ceremony for the 5th ‘Gwangju Hwaro Contest’ at its headquarters.

The Gwangju Hwaro Contest, the only competition nationwide exclusively for Korean painting artists, began accepting entries on December 1st last year and selected 5 award-winning artists and 5 honorable mention artists through portfolio review, artwork evaluation, and in-depth interviews.

The grand prize winner, artist Lee Sungkyung, received a prize of 30 million KRW along with special benefits such as sponsorship for a solo exhibition or participation in an overseas residency. The excellence award went to artist Woo Minjung with a prize of 20 million KRW, and the merit awards were given to artists Sung Minwoo, Lim Cheolmin, and Jung Haena, each receiving 10 million KRW.

Song Jongwook, president of Gwangju Bank, said, “Along with international art festivals such as the Gwangju Biennale and the Jeonnam International Ink Biennale, we hope that our region, where ‘Gwangju Hwaro’ is held, will become a stronghold that can promote Korean painting.” He added, “As the representative bank of Gwangju and Jeonnam, we will strive to revitalize various cultural projects that allow local residents to enjoy the culture and arts of ‘Yeohyang City Gwangju.’”

Every year, the works of the winners and honorable mentions of the Gwangju Hwaro Contest have been exhibited at the National Asian Culture Complex under the title ‘10 Gwangju Hwaro Artists,’ but this year, as last year, the exhibition was postponed due to COVID-19 social distancing and quarantine guidelines.

The upcoming ‘Gwangju Hwaro Artists Exhibition’ will be a joint exhibition of 20 artists selected from the 4th and 5th Gwangju Hwaro Contests, promising a more diverse and abundant collection of works.

‘Gwangju Hwaro’ is a cultural event promoted by Gwangju Bank with the hope that Gwangju will become a ‘fortress’ preserving the tradition and lineage of Korean painting. Since 2016, it has taken its first step as a Korean painting contest targeting artists nationwide, and this year marks its 5th edition. It is regarded as a representative contest specialized in the Korean painting field within a relatively short period.

Gwangju Bank pursues ESG management philosophy that values public interest and coexistence, and participates with interest in various fields such as the local economy, society, and culture to create social value for a healthy local community.

Accordingly, even as artificial intelligence takes center stage in industries including finance amid the 4th Industrial Revolution, Gwangju Bank remains steadfast in cherishing nostalgia for the old and preserving our traditional lineage, aiming for Gwangju to become a stronghold for the promotion of Korean painting. Together with local residents, it dedicates itself annually to hosting the ‘Gwangju Hwaro Contest’ to share affection for the region’s distinctive culture and arts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.