Minjung art
Encyclopedia
Minjung art was a South Korea
n political and populist
art
movement, born in 1980.
The Minjung
("people's") 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 woodblocks, to call for democratization and Korean reunification
. Their artworks glorified nature, laborers, and peasants, and criticized imperialism
, Americanization
, and the authoritarian South Korean government. In the 1980s, many Minjung artists were accused of sympathizing with communism
and North Korea
, and tortured or imprisoned like other democratization activists.
The organization of Hyun-sil and Bal-un Group in 1979 inspired several artists to line up against the government and 70's art. That was the time when Minjung art started. Notable Minjung artists included Kim Pong-jun (b. 1954), who led the Du-Rong Group, Kim Jeong-heon (b. 1946), Im Ok-sang (b. 1950), Sin Hak-ch’ol, O Yun (1946-1986), and Hong Song-dam
.
With the democratization of the 1990s, Minjung art started losing their concrete aim and became part of the mainstream - post modernism. In 1994, the Kim Young Sam government allowed a large-scale exhibition entitled "Fifteen Years of Minjung Art: 1980-1994" in the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon
, and in 1996, the government even commissioned Hong Song-dam
, one of the most acclaimed and radical Minjung artists, to create a 42-meter Minjung mural for a wall of Chonnam National University
in Kwangju itself. Possibly as a result of this greater acceptance, while earlier Minjung artwork has become sought after, little new art in the Minjung style is being created. Later Korean artists tend towards post-modern and avant-garde
styles.
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 political and populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
movement, born in 1980.
The Minjung
Minjung
Minjung is a Korean word that is difficult to properly translate into other languages in a way that retains its historical and cultural connotations. Minjung is a combination of the two hanja characters min and jung...
("people's") cultural movement came as the popular and artistic response to the Gwangju Massacre
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...
by South Korean dictator General 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,...
in May of 1980. Minjung artists used visual arts, especially painting and woodblocks, to call for democratization and Korean reunification
Korean reunification
Korean reunification refers to the hypothetical future reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government...
. Their artworks glorified nature, laborers, and peasants, and criticized imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
, Americanization
Americanization
Americanization is the influence of the United States on the popular culture, technology, business practices, or political techniques of other countries. The term has been used since at least 1907. Inside the U.S...
, and the authoritarian South Korean government. In the 1980s, many Minjung artists were accused of sympathizing with communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, and tortured or imprisoned like other democratization activists.
The organization of Hyun-sil and Bal-un Group in 1979 inspired several artists to line up against the government and 70's art. That was the time when Minjung art started. Notable Minjung artists included Kim Pong-jun (b. 1954), who led the Du-Rong Group, Kim Jeong-heon (b. 1946), Im Ok-sang (b. 1950), Sin Hak-ch’ol, O Yun (1946-1986), and Hong Song-dam
Hong Song-dam
Hong Song-Dam is a South Korean 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...
.
With the democratization of the 1990s, Minjung art started losing their concrete aim and became part of the mainstream - post modernism. In 1994, the Kim Young Sam government allowed a large-scale exhibition entitled "Fifteen Years of Minjung Art: 1980-1994" in the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon
Gwacheon
Gwacheon is a city in Gyeonggi-do Province, South Korea. It lies close to Seoul in the heart of the Seoul National Capital Area, and also lies just east of Anyang...
, and in 1996, the government even commissioned Hong Song-dam
Hong Song-dam
Hong Song-Dam is a South Korean 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...
, one of the most acclaimed and radical Minjung artists, to create a 42-meter Minjung mural for a wall of 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...
in Kwangju itself. Possibly as a result of this greater acceptance, while earlier Minjung artwork has become sought after, little new art in the Minjung style is being created. Later Korean artists tend towards post-modern and avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
styles.