Boseong-gun, Artist Ihwa-young Wins Special Award at Paris Le Salon Exhibition

Published 10 Mar.2023 16:50(KST)

First Entry Folk Painting 'Yeonhakdo', The World Focuses on Korean Traditional Art

Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that local artist Yedam Lee Hwa-young received a special mention award at the LeSalon exhibition in Paris, France.

The Paris LeSalon exhibition, which began before King Louis XIV in 1570, boasts a tradition of over 450 years and serves as a gateway for world-renowned painters.

Ye Dam Lee Hwa-young, an artist from Boseong, received a special mention award at the LeSalon exhibition in Paris, France. <br>Photo by Boseong County

Ye Dam Lee Hwa-young, an artist from Boseong, received a special mention award at the LeSalon exhibition in Paris, France.
Photo by Boseong County

Familiar names to us such as ?douard Manet, ?mile Zola, Monet, Courbet, Renoir, Millet, and Rodin also gained prominence through the LeSalon exhibition.

Artist Lee Hwa-young, a Korean Minhwa (traditional colored painting) artist, submitted her work Yeonhakdo (140cm wide, 180cm high) to the Paris LeSalon exhibition last September.

After passing the first round of judging in November, Yeonhakdo was exhibited at the Grand Palais ?ph?m?re exhibition hall, hosted by the French Artists Association.

Lee Hwa-young’s Yeonhakdo was the only Korean Minhwa piece submitted to LeSalon and by receiving the special mention award, it introduced traditional Korean art to the world.

During the exhibition period, multiple judges conducted a second round of judging based on visitors’ reactions and announced the results. Lee Hwa-young received the special mention award.

According to local responses, visitors said, “It is unusual and rare to receive an award in the second round on the first submission,” and many visitors and participating artists praised the work, saying they were “captivated by the beauty of Korea.”

Meanwhile, Yedam Lee Hwa-young is a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 96 as an Onggi (traditional Korean pottery) artisan and is the spouse of artist Lee Hak-su, who operates ‘Miryeok Onggi’ in Miryeok-myeon, Boseong-gun. Currently, she is active solely as a traditional Minhwa artist.