Hong Song-dam
Encyclopedia
Hong Song-Dam is a South Korea
n artist who works with woodcuts. He was born on the island of Hauido
and raised in Gwangju
, where he took part in the 1980 uprising
against Chun Doo-hwan
's military dictatorship. After the uprising he became politically active, and in July 1989 was arrested for allegedly breaking the National Security Act
(he had sent slides of a mural he had created, along with around 200 other South Korean artists, to North Korea). Amnesty International
adopted him as a prisoner of conscience
and he was released from prison in the early 1990s. He is an acclaimed member of the Minjung art
movement, and in 1996 was commissioned by the Government of South Korea
to create a 42 metre mural
for Chonnam National University
. He married in 2005 and settled in Ansan
.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n artist who works with woodcuts. He was born on the island of Hauido
Hauido
Haui-do is an island off the South Korean coast in the Yellow Sea, part of Sinan County in Jeollanam-do province. It has an area of 14.46 km² and is home to more than 1,900 people. It was the birthplace of former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung....
and raised in Gwangju
Gwangju
Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister...
, where he took part in the 1980 uprising
Gwangju massacre
The Gwangju Democratization Movement refers to a popular uprising in the city of Gwangju, South Korea from May 18 to May 27, 1980. During this period, citizens rose up against Chun Doo-hwan's military dictatorship and took control of the city...
against Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan
Chun Doo-hwan was a ROK Army general and the President of South Korea from 1980 to 1988. Chun was sentenced to death in 1996 for his heavy-handed response to the Gwangju Democratization Movement, but later pardoned by President Kim Young-sam with the advice of then President-elect Kim Dae-jung,...
's military dictatorship. After the uprising he became politically active, and in July 1989 was arrested for allegedly breaking the National Security Act
National Security Act (South Korea)
The National Security Law is a South Korean law which has the avowed purpose "to restrict anti-state acts that endanger national security and to protect [the] nation's safety and its people's life and freedom."...
(he had sent slides of a mural he had created, along with around 200 other South Korean artists, to North Korea). Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
adopted him as a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
and he was released from prison in the early 1990s. He is an acclaimed member of the Minjung art
Minjung art
Minjung art was a South Korean political and populist art movement, born in 1980.The Minjung cultural movement came as the popular and artistic response to the Gwangju Massacre by South Korean dictator General Chun Doo-hwan in May of 1980. Minjung artists used visual arts, especially painting and...
movement, and in 1996 was commissioned by the Government of South Korea
Government of South Korea
The Government of South Korea is divided into executive, judicial, and legislative branches. The executive and judicial branches operate primarily at the national level, although various ministries in the executive branch also carry out local functions. Local governments are semi-autonomous, and...
to create a 42 metre mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
for Chonnam National University
Chonnam National University
Chonnam National University is a South Korean university located in the metropolitan city of Gwangju which lies in the middle of South Jeolla or Jeonnam province, for which the school is named in the Southwest of the country...
. He married in 2005 and settled in Ansan
Ansan
Ansan is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It lies south of Seoul, and is part of the Seoul National Capital Area. It is connected to Seoul by rail via Seoul Subway Line 4....
.